Self-employment
Bridal shop donates proceeds to help children with cancerDressed for successIt is possible to build your small business to make a difference in the world. “When I was a “budget bride” I thought up this way to help other marrying women and help children with cancer at the same time,” entrepreneur Helen Sweet says. ROGER PIERCE |
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 [ 2007-04-11 ] |
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Small business owner Helen Sweet uses donated bridal gowns to send kids with cancer to camp.
Sweet started The Brides’ Project in 2004 (www.thebridesproject.com) to fulfill two very important goals: to provide every bride with the things she needs for a beautiful wedding within her budget and to help children and adults living with cancer.
This unique bridal salon takes donated gowns from individuals, salons and manufacturers and sells them to raise money for cancer charities.
“I began the project the day after my honeymoon on June 1, 2004,” Sweet says. “I donated all of my wedding items to charity.”
Sweet sells donated gowns to budget-conscious brides-to-be and uses the funds to send a kid to camp. “We support an organization called Camp Quality which provides a camping experience for children affected by cancer,” she says.
Early in life, Sweet lost her best friend to cancer. “It’s one of those memories that stayed with me because I felt so helpless at the time,” she recalls. “Now, my customers and I get to bring a little joy into a child’s life by letting them enjoy a true camp experience.”
At its location at Broadview and Gerrard in Toronto, The Brides’ Project offers a relaxing and friendly environment for women to browse and try on dresses. “We’ve got lots of inventory for every taste and budget,” Sweet says.
Certainly a different type of entrepreneur, Sweet says she’s also learned to cooperate with her competition. “When I started, I viewed several other organizations as competition,” she says. “Now I work with these companies to cross-refer clients. Working together is far more effective than trying to compete.”
Would you ever work for a social or charitable enterprise in the third sector?