Win a FIVE gift

In this economy, getting something good for free is great. five ACCESSORIES believes in making people Look Good and Feel Good by giving away a free purse and/or jewelry item each quarter. Please sign up via the website fiveACCESSORIES.com and look for our newsletter to let you know if you won. The next drawing is set to come out in March 2010.

Eco Friendly Bamboo Bags

Looking to stock up on eco friendly handbags or jewelry made out of Bamboo. Look no further than five ACCESSORIES and their best selling line of bamboo clutches from Bali, Indonesia. Eco fashion meets reasonable prices meets good causes (as FIVE dollars is donated back to help schoolchildren continue their education in Bali).

Look Good and Feel Good at five ACCESSORIES.

Be Green for Valentine's Day

Looking for the perfect Socially Conscious Valentine's Day Gift from the heart..... MADE FROM Chicago recycled material such as transit cards and ticket stubs MADE BY local folks that have been formerly homeless.

Please consider our Recycled Picture Frame. Through our income generating program we have been able to employ five StreetWise Vendors in 2009. Please let us know if you have interest in customizing the triangle piece for fundraising events, weddings or corporate gifts.

All frames have the picture, signature and location where the StreetWise vendor (aka. artist) sells their newspaper.

The Work at Home Woman

At five ACCESSORIES one of our goals is to help men and women by creating income generating programs and support our artisans and vendors by giving back a portion of our sales directly to them. With the advent of technology and all of its advances, more and more women here in North America are working from home. Opportunities that enable these women to remain home with their children while helping to contribute to their family’s income. Therefore, today’s post is for them – The Work at Home Woman.
TheWorkAtHomeWoman.com is a resource for women desiring to work at home, are working at home or know someone who is doing one or the other.Holly Reisem Hanna has done a lot of work to put together a place where women can offer and give support to other women working at home. She has also gathered many different resources like work at home opportunities, advertising and a directory for women to promote and support other women in business.
TheWorkAtHomeWoman.com is:” …A website dedicated to helping women and moms fulfill their dreams of working at home and/or becoming self employed, while providing inspiration, motivation and support.”To read more about Holly or for more information, please visit: http://www.theworkathomewoman.com/
Photo courtesy of : Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

five ACCESSORIES and Fair Trade

We at five ACCESSORIES strive to be in complient with Fair Trade principles.

We are committed to promoting fair trade through:

• Providing work and income for the most economically disadvantaged artisans throughout the world;

• Encouraging the empowerment of women and men in commerce through raising their self-esteem, dignity and self-sufficiency;• Creating a non-exploitive, supportive business environment in which women of different religions, ethnicities and ages can gain energy and learn to work together

• Protecting children's rights;

• And developing employment opportunities for many artisans, many of whom would not be employable in mainstream business.

Green America

five ACCESSORIES is Officially a Member of Green America
In August of this year, we went through the application process of applying to Green America to become a business member. “Green America's Green Business Network™ is the largest network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses in America. Membership is subject to approval.”

About Green America
“Green America is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1982. (We went by the name "Co-op America" until January 1, 2009.)
Our mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.”

Green America offers green businesses with a number of perks as a member. Things like being listed in their business directory and having the privilege to sell on World of Good on eBay and more as listed on their membership page.
Becoming a member of Green America was important to us because it gives five ACCESSORIES credibility to consumers in the market place and in being known as a sustainable business. So it is with great pleasure that we announce we have received word that we are now officially members of Green America!

CRAVE Chicago

Monday, November 16th 2009, five ACCESSORIES and our Interns had the opportunity to go to the CRAVE Chicago 'book launch' party, at The Arthur Murray Dance Studio.It was a great opportunity to mingle and network with other Chicagoan business owners, such as The Meatloaf Bakery, The Damian Group, Honey Cafe, Dry Soda, Solixir, Candyality, Busy Beaver Button Company, Chocolate Gourmet and NAHA! The night consisted of meringue dance lessons, good music, great conversation, and delicious samples! Best treat of the night had to be the gummy bears from Candyality! They definitely kept us going back for more!

Visit the Crave Chicago website to see what they're all about. You can pick up a copy of the book at the five ACCESSORIES retail location at 5247 N Clark St, Chicago, IL. Check out five ACCESSORIES on page 90!