Feature by Atalanta Kyriazi, Jennifer Beason November 25, 2022
It’s the thought that counts, not how much you spend on a gift — right? In 2021, consumers in the U.S. alone spent an average of $1,011 during the holiday season, with 226 million people making purchases. According to the National Retail Federation, collective spend amounted to $886.7 billion, up 14.1% from 2020.
What if making a small shift in your purchasing decisions this holiday season could collectively create billions of dollars in investment into solving for mounting issues of poverty, waste, and inequality? Would you make a change?
As consumers, we have a unique opportunity to make purchases that have real impact. By supporting social enterprises, local small businesses, and diverse business owners this season, the money you spend will have a direct, positive impact on your community and the people and ecosystems in need around the world. It’s a win-win: find the perfect gift you’re looking for and invest in causes that matter to you! Maybe you’re thinking, “That sounds nice, but where do I begin?” SAP and our global ecosystem of social impact partners have you covered!
This year, we worked with our social responsibility community, including many of the members of the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, to compile a comprehensive list of places to shop from around the world. These holiday shopping suggestions are sure to delight and inspire you and deliver impact as well.
Jeroo Billimoria, co-founder of Catalyst 2030, shared that the Catalyst Marketplace originally started out as a crazy idea, but turned into something wonderful: “Catalyst Market is a perfect example of hundreds of entrepreneurs coming together — in only one year — to create a new kind of marketplace that prioritizes people and planet in a regenerative model of commerce.”
Along with last year’s guide, this is a one-stop resource for all your shopping needs this holiday season, and all throughout the year. We thank the social enterprises, social impact communities, and SAP colleagues who have all contributed to make this a globally relevant gift guide, and are hopeful that our efforts will make it a little easier for you to find something magical and memorable to give the ones you love.
And if there are other incredible social enterprises or gift guides you love that are not listed here, share your suggestions on social media, tagging @SAP4Good on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Let’s continue to build on this collective list of businesses that truly represent the meaning of the season.
Happy holidays!
What to keep in mind when making meaningful purchases:
Kenya
Nigeria
South Africa
Uganda
India
Indonesia
Malaysia
Nepal
Philippines
Thailand
Austria
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Netherlands
Slovakia
U.K.
Lebanon
Turkey
Canada
U.S.
Guatemala
Mexico
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SAP Community Holiday Shopping Guide: Ideas to Excite, Inspire, and Make an Impact – SAP News Center
