We recently shared our adaptive clothing line with the wonderful community over at "The World is Accessible," and the feedback was insightful and direct. Among the supportive comments, a recurring theme emerged: "Your clothing is too expensive! Just make them cheap!"
This statement, while understandable, struck a chord with us. It reminded us of the well-meaning but often dismissive phrase directed at individuals with mobility challenges: "Just stand up and walk!"
Just as no one chooses to be limited by their body, we also know that no one wants to feel like they're being unfairly charged for essential clothing. At Vilber's, our mission goes beyond just creating functional garments. We see this as a movement to enhance the rights of disabled people by empowering them to be advocates for themselves. And that includes ensuring access to quality, comfortable, and yes, affordable clothing.
There are certain principles we stand firm on. We advocate for the quality of our garments because they need to withstand daily wear and provide genuine comfort and functionality. We also believe in fair salaries and social security for the dedicated workers who craft our clothing. These are non-negotiables for us. We don't want to compromise on the well-being of our team or the durability of our products.
However, we absolutely agree that costs need to come down, and we believe that by working together and supporting each other, we can make a significant difference.
One of the things that feels particularly counterintuitive to us is the significant cost associated with Meta (Facebook and Instagram) advertising. Isn't Mark Zuckerberg rich enough already? The reality is, the cost to sell just one item through Meta ads can often balloon to a staggering 50% of the item's cost (yes, making us to pay extra to get the item sold). Is that a reasonable price to pay simply to connect with people who need our products? We don't think so.
Of course, there are other unavoidable costs like VAT, environmental taxes, and social taxes for our workers. These are part of doing business responsibly and contributing to society. But the exorbitant cost of advertising feels like an area ripe for disruption.
So, what can we do about it? How can we collectively make adaptive clothing more accessible without sacrificing quality and ethical production?
Here's where you come in. We believe in the power of community and direct connection. Here are a couple of simple yet powerful ways you can help us reduce costs and ultimately make our garments more affordable:
1. Subscribe to Our Mailing List: Sending an email costs us next to nothing! By joining our mailing list, you'll be the first to know about new arrivals, special offers, and important updates. It's a direct line of communication that bypasses expensive advertising algorithms.
2. Follow and Share on Social Media: You can find us at facebook.com/vilbersadaptive and instagram.com/vilbersadaptive. And here's another fantastic reason to follow us: when you join our social media community, you're helping us create a clearer picture of who our clients are. This means that even if we do need to use Meta ads in the future, the targeting will be much more precise based on our engaged followers. Your follow and engagement directly contribute to more efficient advertising spend! Even if you're not in a position to purchase something yourself right now (perhaps the current cost is a barrier), simply following our pages and sharing our posts can make a huge difference. You might reach a friend, a family member, or someone in your network who desperately needs adaptive clothing and hasn't found us yet. Spreading awareness organically costs nothing but your time and a click – and its impact can be immense.
Now, let's talk about what we can do to further this goal. We're excited to announce a new initiative designed to bridge the affordability gap: Vilbers Premium Merch for Businesses.
We've decided to develop a branch of high-quality merchandise – think premium hoodies and shirts – specifically for companies. Here's the idea: if your company is thriving and operating with a profit, you can directly support the disabled community by choosing Vilbers Premium Merch for your corporate gifting, team wear, or promotional items.
This isn't just a win-win situation; it's a win-win-win!
- Businesses get access to top-notch, ethically produced merchandise that reflects their commitment to quality and social responsibility.
- The disabled community benefits from a portion of the profits being directly reinvested to subsidize the production of our adaptive garments, making them more accessible.
- And Vilbers can continue to run our social enterprise sustainably, ensuring we don't lose everything we've invested in this important mission.
What do you think? Are you with us in this effort to make adaptive clothing more affordable and accessible? We believe that by working together – individuals sharing and engaging, and businesses choosing to support social good – we can create a real and lasting impact. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
