CHARITABLE CAUSES REACH THE HEART AND SHELF OF RETAILERS - NORDSTROM TAKES ON THE CRISIS IN AFRICA

Now that celebrities have taken on the cause to eliminate suffering in Africa, it was only a matter of time before a retailer would step up to the plate and help. It turns out that Nordstrom did just that.

To help raise money - and to stand behind Bono and his organization (known as ONE) - Nordstrom is selling ONE T-shirts (for $40) to raise social consciousness about AIDS and poverty in Africa. The shirts are made by Edun, a brand owned by Ali Hewson, Bono and designer Rogan Gregory.

The organization is a coalition of two million people and 70 non-profit groups who “want to make a difference in the world.” The shirts will be photographed on celebrities and marketed to the world via ads and posters.

The shirts are made in Lesotho Africa and $10 from every shirt sold will go to the alliance to fight poverty and AIDS.

Nordstrom will feature the T-shirt in the store, window displays and in their September catalogues. They will also display the name of customers who buy the shirt in their store windows in Seattle; Chicago; South Coast Plaza, Topanga, and The Grove in Los Angeles; Fashion Valley in San Diego; San Francisco and Garden State Plaza, N.J.

I tell you this for a few reasons. One to let you know what’s going on with retailers and their audience, another reason is to let you know about new marketing ideas and also… to alert you to the fact that this is a good charity to get involved with. I have not heard anything about Hats, but I am sure they would like hats to be sold in the name of philanthropy. Just a thought.