We were lucky to catch up with Joline Mann recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joline, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My personal life is inspired by my faith and a deep desire to lift up others who need help around me. Thus, I knew that if I wanted to pursue entrepreneurship and dedicate my entire life to a business then that business would have to possess a deeper purpose than simply profit. My original business idea was to create a brand of women’s jewelry and accessories that were sustainable, fair trade and supported communities facing extreme poverty in Ecuador and India, where my mother and father are from, respectively. I’ve witnessed first hand the disparity that my ancestors have faced in these countries during my travels and in listening to their stories. Their testimonies ignited in me a passion, which only increased as I reached adulthood, that I would one day come back and help the people from where I came. In doing my due diligence and market research as part of a responsible business launch, my team and I came to discover that there were many brands already operating that were doing so much good! Oftentimes, these brands were undiscovered and had no voice in mainstream marketplaces. For example, we discovered a soap and bath bomb company that employs individuals from the autistic community. We found a gourmet roasted cashew nut company that gives back a portion of proceeds to cancer wellness centers because the founder is a cancer survivor. We uncovered a line of beautiful jewelry that is made by sex trafficking survivors supporting their rehabilitation, career and entrance back into society. Learning about the powerful missions behind these brands and of so many more inspired me to pivot my own business idea, from creating one singular brand to instead making a platform & market for all these brands. I wanted to give a voice to all the brands out there who place purpose over profit, because they are the true heroes of our time using their time, talents and treasures to make a positive impact on society and the planet. Furthermore, shoppers nowadays are informed, smart and care about where their money is going. These conscious consumers want to support causes that they are passionate about! Mother Teresa once said that “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create ripples.” Her words inspire Purposer because we know that by supporting the dreams of socially conscious entrepreneurs with purposeful brands all around the globe and bringing their products to the mainstream market, we can help change the world one purchase at a time!

Joline, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My dream for Purposer was inspired by and supported by a great combination of faith, family, friends, a university education at USD, internships at various San Diego startups and a personal mission to support the poor, uphold the dignity of every human person and protect all creation & the planet. It’s an absolute honor to build and share the Purposer market with shoppers because our brands are doing powerful work to help their unique cause and communities. On Purposer, we have over 40 different causes that you can search by, so that everyone can discover brands that align with their personal passions, values and beliefs! We also have a variety of products ranging from home goods to clothing to accessories to pet care and even food treats. There is a product and purpose for everyone on our site! Shoppers can think of us as the ethical shopping site where they will buy their next birthday gift, summer goodies, back to school supplies, holiday purchases and more! Most importantly, they can rest assured that their money is going towards an important purpose that is making a positive impact on society and the planet.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of my passions is open water swimming in the ocean three to four times a week in La Jolla Cove, a beautiful channel with lots of seals, sea lions and wildlife in San Diego, CA! This summer as I was wading out in the water, I met a fellow swimmer and entered into a conversation about our life & careers. It turns out that my new friend owned a sustainable products business and I immediately told him about Purposer! We shared our passions for e-commerce and conscious consumerism and five minutes later, we high fived in the ocean, agreeing to partner together! We both laughed and I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I had just acquired a new vendor for Purposer in the middle of the ocean! This usually only happens over the phone, email or in person at conferences. This partnership, safe to say, is the coolest, most unique connection that I’ve ever made!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The morale of the Purposer is inspired by our favorite quote by St. Francis of Assisi that “all the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light from a single candle.” We know that the brands that place purpose over profit in all instances of their business operations will prosper because goodness always prevails in the end. The journey may be hard and filled with challenges but our brands have purposes that resonate with millions of people and they have the fortitude to live them out. This truth, goodness and light is powerful. This is also the reason why our logo is a lightbulb, with the filament inside being a ‘P’ for Purposer!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://purposer.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beapurposer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeAPurposer/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purposer
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeAPurposer

Image Credits
Purposer ®