Small Business Spotlight – Bookmarks For Kindness
Good morning everyone! Welcome to a new spotlight here on HDB, where we feature small businesses and organizations.
When I first entered the world of bookstagram, I was blown away by all the people out there who put their heart, soul, and passion into the bookish items that we all love to fill our shelves with. This is my attempt to give them some love, and introduce you to the people behind those shops!
We’re kicking off this new feature with a brilliant charity program that was dreamed up by one of my newest (and particularly amazing) friends on Bookstagram! Check out Sam and her passion project, Bookmarks for Kindness.
***
A desire to do good
Simple acts of kindness can be some of the most powerful.
Bookmarks for Kindness is an Instagram based project encouraging that idea.
Bookmarks for Kindness is an Instagram based project encouraging that idea.
My name is Sam, and I started Bookmarks for Kindness (B4K)
at the very end of 2016. I think that was a tough year for a lot of people, and
as it came to a close I started looking for ways to express myself more, and
also to relieve stress. One of the best outlets I found was drawing and
watercolor painting. Making bookmarks for my favorite books was an obvious
choice for me and after sharing them on my Bookstagram account (@sammaybereading)
my followers encouraged me to start selling my work.
at the very end of 2016. I think that was a tough year for a lot of people, and
as it came to a close I started looking for ways to express myself more, and
also to relieve stress. One of the best outlets I found was drawing and
watercolor painting. Making bookmarks for my favorite books was an obvious
choice for me and after sharing them on my Bookstagram account (@sammaybereading)
my followers encouraged me to start selling my work.
Initially I thought I would open an etsy shop, and try to
make some truly unique bookmarks for fellow bookworms, but I had a lot of
concerns. What if I couldn’t keep up with demand, what if it stopped being fun,
or what if I accidentally copied another artist? I carried these thoughts for a
couple days, when an idea struck.
make some truly unique bookmarks for fellow bookworms, but I had a lot of
concerns. What if I couldn’t keep up with demand, what if it stopped being fun,
or what if I accidentally copied another artist? I carried these thoughts for a
couple days, when an idea struck.
Inspiration from theGreatest International Scavenger Hunt the World has Ever Seen (aka GISHWHES)
Misha Collins, Supernatural actor and all around do-gooder,
has done a lot in his life to proliferate the idea that simple acts of kindness
have power. He created Random Acts and GISHWHES
to encourage people to be kind to others in their daily lives. I have
participated in GISHWHES several times, and I had such an amazing time doing
silly things that made myself and others smile.
has done a lot in his life to proliferate the idea that simple acts of kindness
have power. He created Random Acts and GISHWHES
to encourage people to be kind to others in their daily lives. I have
participated in GISHWHES several times, and I had such an amazing time doing
silly things that made myself and others smile.
In the few months I ran a bookstagram account prior to starting
B4K, I saw so much kindness. People give books and bookish merch away for free
all the time. Customers go out of their way to help promote and share products
from small businesses they love just because they love them! It’s a community
of people helping others achieve their creative dreams, and I just love it. I
also saw people in the community who couldn’t afford the bookish goodies they
wanted either because they were younger and couldn’t get the money, or because
they lived in a country where shipping was a problem. I didn’t want money to be
a barrier for people to get my bookmarks if they liked them. That idea,
combined with my experiences with random acts of kindness helped make B4K a
fully formed idea.
B4K, I saw so much kindness. People give books and bookish merch away for free
all the time. Customers go out of their way to help promote and share products
from small businesses they love just because they love them! It’s a community
of people helping others achieve their creative dreams, and I just love it. I
also saw people in the community who couldn’t afford the bookish goodies they
wanted either because they were younger and couldn’t get the money, or because
they lived in a country where shipping was a problem. I didn’t want money to be
a barrier for people to get my bookmarks if they liked them. That idea,
combined with my experiences with random acts of kindness helped make B4K a
fully formed idea.
The Bookmarks 4Kindness Mission
My ultimate goal is to provide book worms with bookmarks
from their favorite series at very little to no cost. I want to share my work
with those who appreciate it, and I want to let people use kindness as
currency. If I can use my time and my talent to share a little bit of light
with a small corner of the internet, then I have achieved my goals!
from their favorite series at very little to no cost. I want to share my work
with those who appreciate it, and I want to let people use kindness as
currency. If I can use my time and my talent to share a little bit of light
with a small corner of the internet, then I have achieved my goals!
I also wanted to show that creators don’t work in isolation
on bookstagram, and that it is possible for us to support each other and build
each other up, rather than competing and trying to be better than all the other
shops. In an effort to do that, I have partnered with a few other artists to
provide bookmarks that I send out for free! Some of those creators include @doubleasees,
@zwischenseitlich,
and @highladyaelin.
There are more contributors joining very soon and I am so excited to have a greater
variety of work to share.
on bookstagram, and that it is possible for us to support each other and build
each other up, rather than competing and trying to be better than all the other
shops. In an effort to do that, I have partnered with a few other artists to
provide bookmarks that I send out for free! Some of those creators include @doubleasees,
@zwischenseitlich,
and @highladyaelin.
There are more contributors joining very soon and I am so excited to have a greater
variety of work to share.
In an effort to encourage and celebrate the community of
Bookstagram, I also gathered a group of brand reps who are helping me to share
the message of kindness, and all the additional goals I hope to achieve (read
on for those!). They are currently @insidethepagesblog,
@book.by.book,
@longlivereading,
@randomrivendellreader, and @books_n_the_beach.
They all take such lovely bookmark photos and they are all awesome kind people.
I have really enjoyed working with them. I am so excited to see how they can
help the project grow!
Bookstagram, I also gathered a group of brand reps who are helping me to share
the message of kindness, and all the additional goals I hope to achieve (read
on for those!). They are currently @insidethepagesblog,
@book.by.book,
@longlivereading,
@randomrivendellreader, and @books_n_the_beach.
They all take such lovely bookmark photos and they are all awesome kind people.
I have really enjoyed working with them. I am so excited to see how they can
help the project grow!
How it works
I get a lot of questions from people who are new to B4K
about how they can purchase bookmarks, or where the shop is located. There is
no shop, but I do have a blog where there is some additional info on
the project.
about how they can purchase bookmarks, or where the shop is located. There is
no shop, but I do have a blog where there is some additional info on
the project.
I provide two main ways of getting bookmarks. You can post a
photo in your instagram feed or story about a recent random act of kindness and
tag @bookmarks_for_kindness in the post. This could be anything from buying a
stranger’s coffee, cooking dinner for a friend, writing a letter to someone you
haven’t heard from in awhile, or volunteering at a local library. Any good deed
no matter how large or small with earn you bookmark mail!
photo in your instagram feed or story about a recent random act of kindness and
tag @bookmarks_for_kindness in the post. This could be anything from buying a
stranger’s coffee, cooking dinner for a friend, writing a letter to someone you
haven’t heard from in awhile, or volunteering at a local library. Any good deed
no matter how large or small with earn you bookmark mail!
The second way you can get bookmarks is through one of the
donation options I offer through the blog. Every month I promote a different
charity, and any donations given receive bookmarks as a thank you gift. In
February, my donation event raised over $600.00 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I
did donate matching funds myself, and one particular donor was very generous,
but I am very proud of what I was able to do in a month with the help of others!
donation options I offer through the blog. Every month I promote a different
charity, and any donations given receive bookmarks as a thank you gift. In
February, my donation event raised over $600.00 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I
did donate matching funds myself, and one particular donor was very generous,
but I am very proud of what I was able to do in a month with the help of others!
This month I am promoting Room To Read, a literacy organization helping
to educate children in Africa and Asia. My goal this month is $300.00, the
amount Room To Read asks for to support life skills education in secondary
school for a year. We have raised close to $100.00 already, enough to teach 2
children to read and write for 1 year! I hope we will reach the $300.00 goal,
but I need more help to get there!
to educate children in Africa and Asia. My goal this month is $300.00, the
amount Room To Read asks for to support life skills education in secondary
school for a year. We have raised close to $100.00 already, enough to teach 2
children to read and write for 1 year! I hope we will reach the $300.00 goal,
but I need more help to get there!
There is also a Patreon
account for B4K, where supporters can donate a few dollars every month to help
defray the cost of bookmark supplies and stamps. None of the money from the
patreon goes into my pocket, it is only used to keep B4K going! There is an
option there to donate $5/month and receive a subscription package every month.
I would love for more support through this avenue, as I am unsure I will be
able to keep this project going on my own as it grows.
account for B4K, where supporters can donate a few dollars every month to help
defray the cost of bookmark supplies and stamps. None of the money from the
patreon goes into my pocket, it is only used to keep B4K going! There is an
option there to donate $5/month and receive a subscription package every month.
I would love for more support through this avenue, as I am unsure I will be
able to keep this project going on my own as it grows.
I occasionally do giveaways and Kindness Challenges on my
page, and I happily provide bookmarks for others’ giveaways as well, as I feel
they are an act of kindness in their own right. Feel free to contact me if you
even want to include a little kindness in your next giveaway!
page, and I happily provide bookmarks for others’ giveaways as well, as I feel
they are an act of kindness in their own right. Feel free to contact me if you
even want to include a little kindness in your next giveaway!
Additional projectgoals
I am thrilled to announce that I am partnering with Read em and Steep, a new monthly subscription
box focusing on indie books, and bookish goodies! I am making bookmarks for
this box every few months and I can’t wait for it to get started. The first box
will be released in May. Projects like this one do allow me to get some money
from this project, but part of my payment is a donation to my charity of the
month! Jada at Read em and Steep also introduced me to Room To Read, and she
supports that charity through the book box as well!
box focusing on indie books, and bookish goodies! I am making bookmarks for
this box every few months and I can’t wait for it to get started. The first box
will be released in May. Projects like this one do allow me to get some money
from this project, but part of my payment is a donation to my charity of the
month! Jada at Read em and Steep also introduced me to Room To Read, and she
supports that charity through the book box as well!
As the convention season quickly approaches, I am hoping to
get a few packages of bookmarks ready to take with me to give out to attendees!
Currently I am planning to be at YallWest in Santa Monica, Wondercon in
Anaheim, and also San Diego Comic con. I may hand those bookmarks out to people
who I see committing random acts of kindness, who seem like they could use a
pick me up, or anyone who knows about the project! I’m excited to meet some
followers for real this season and interact offline.
get a few packages of bookmarks ready to take with me to give out to attendees!
Currently I am planning to be at YallWest in Santa Monica, Wondercon in
Anaheim, and also San Diego Comic con. I may hand those bookmarks out to people
who I see committing random acts of kindness, who seem like they could use a
pick me up, or anyone who knows about the project! I’m excited to meet some
followers for real this season and interact offline.
I hope you will consider engaging with and supporting B4K on
instagram! I am always happy to talk about life, mental health, charities I
could promote, and any bookmark design ideas you may have! Thank you for taking
time to read about my project.
instagram! I am always happy to talk about life, mental health, charities I
could promote, and any bookmark design ideas you may have! Thank you for taking
time to read about my project.
