Believe it or not … I-ShopTheWorld.com was originally conceived and it’s core business model and values are built upon a foundation of the sincere desire of it’s Founders to Help Fight Global Poverty by Helping Native Artisans and Craftspeople around the world be able to earn a living selling their unique native products, arts and crafts to The World! :)

We have been wanting and meaning to “Tell the Story” of the origins of I-ShopTheWorld.com, herein, since it’s inception/beginning …

And since the Theme for this year’s Blog Action Day, October 15th, 2008 is Poverty …

About which you may find more information, including How You may Help and Participate in this Blog Action Day is Poverty at:

http://i-shoptheworld.com/2008/10/05/please-join-us-to-fight-world-poverty/

… It seemed even more appropriate, and about time, huh? ;) , for us to finally share with you all the story of the origins of the I-ShopTheWorld.com concept and some of our Visions for How I-ShopTheWorld.com may Help Fight World Poverty! :) ok?

So … Here Goes …

I-ShopTheWorld.com was conceived as an enlightenment which came to the Founders, Michael S. DeVries and Sonya M. Seybold, while they were on vacation in the Dominican Republic at the end of this April.

We have really enjoyed the people, culture, cuisine and country of the Dominican Republic, so much so that we have been to the Dominican Republic three times in the past year! 8)

… and we were there at the same resort this same week at the end of April last yeat.

However, this year/April the resort that we stayed at, which was virtually full last year/April, appeared to be only @ half full this year/April, we assume due primarily to the increase in gas prices, resulting in a Severe Drop in Tourism this year :(

Yet the same Dominican artists, craftspeople, vendors, etc. continued to try to make their living selling their unique native products, arts and crafts to the few tourists there.

Needless to say, since the Economy of the Dominican Republic is increasingly, and particularly the ability of these Dominican artists, craftspeople, vendors, etc., many of which are otherwise Very Poor is dependent upon their ability to making their living from, Tourism …

The recent drops in Tourism have Significantly Negatively impacted both the ability of many Dominicans, who rely on their income from Tourism, to make a living, but is also  Significantly Negatively impacting the Economy of the Dominican Republic :(

We have been on a tour to a soap stone carving factory up in the mountains of the where an entire village earns their entire living All working together to handcraft soap stone sculptures, carvings and pieces of art to sell to the tourists that visit the the Dominican Republic, the earnings of which they All Share to support everyone in their village!

The Dominican people are Amazingly Artistic and Creative! :)

… so much so that even the murals on the sides of the buildings in many of the cities and towns are Works of Art! :)

They produce many Beautiful Handcrafted arts and crafts, like a wide variety of soap stone carvings and sculptures and can even reproduce your portrait photograph in Mahogany wood!

Further, there are unique products, such as Larimar that may Only be found in the Dominican Republic!

Observing all of this …

and …

Combined with our over ten (10) years of experience with providing Customers from all over The World with software systems and  products, consulting and other services, utilizing Consultants from all over The World, through The Virtual Consulting Firm …

We had the Epiphany that we could similarly Help Native Artists, Craftspeople, Suppliers, etc. from All over The World market, sell and deliver their Unique Native Products to All the people who may want such Unique Native Products All over The World for Everyone’s Mutual Benefit! :)

… and thus, I-ShopTheWorld.com was “born”! ;) …

We immediately begin making contacts with people there able to act as our Local Associates of I-ShopTheWorld.com to work with all the Local Native Artists, Craftspeople, Suppliers, etc. in the Dominican Republic! as well as guests there at the resort from All over The World with other businesses and additional contacts elsewhere in The World who may be willing and able to help us launch the Unique Concept of I-ShopTheWorld.com for Everyone’s Mutual Benefit! :)

Within days of our arrival back in the United States, the initial web site(s) for I-ShopTheWorld.com was up and running, Thanks to our Friends and Great Web Hosting Providers = AlLynne.com (based in the United Kingdom (UK) ;) )

And I-ShopTheWorld.com has continued to Rapidly Grow and Expand Ever Since! :-D

So …

If it isn’t “obvious” from the Story of the Origins of I-ShopTheWorld.com we have spun above …

How does he concept and business model of I-ShopTheWorld.com Help Fight Global Poverty?

Well …

Firstly, we are Strong Believers that it is Better to ” Teach a Man to Fish” and that there is More Dignity in “A Hand Up” versus “a Hand Out”, and we Truly Believe that these are the Ultimate Solutions to World Poverty! …

Wouldn’t you All Agree?

Therefore, we Strive to help Help Native Artists, Craftspeople, Suppliers, etc. from All over The World Earn a Fair Living producing, marketing, selling and delivering their Unique Native Products to Customers All over The World for Everyone’s Mutual Benefit! :)

However, we also acknowledge that there are some people that, for whatever reason, are truly unable to work / earn a living from their efforts :( …

Therefore, it has also been a Founding Principle of I-ShopTheWorld.com that a portion of All of the proceeds of All of our sales also go to Benefit a Local Charity in the Community of the Native Artists and Craftspeople from which the products originated.

We Truly Believe (Hope and Pray) that by All Working Together that we may All Make a Difference in the Fight Against Global Poverty and Improve the Situation for Everyone around The World / for Everyone’s Benefit! :)

We hope to also be able to Share with You All More How I-ShopTheWorld.com may and about the ongoing efforts of I-ShopTheWorld.com to and Help and Benefit Everyone around  The World …

and How You may also Help Fight Global Poverty!

… not only on foryear’s Blog Action Day, October 15th, 2008 on Poverty, about which again you may find more information, including How You may Help and Participate in this Blog Action Day is Poverty at:

http://i-shoptheworld.com/2008/10/05/please-join-us-to-fight-world-poverty/

but whenever you are looking for Any Unique Native Products from All over The World, you know?

Please also Post Any and All of Your Comments, thoughts and ideas HERE regarding:

- What else can You think of regarding how we may all Work Together to Fight Global Poverty?

- How may we, You and I-ShopTheWorld.com, further Help in the Fight Against Global Poverty?

We look forward to hearing All of Your thoughts and ideas as to how we may All Best Work Together to make this Blog Action Day against Poverty an Overwhelming Success! and End Global Poverty as soon as possible for All of our Mutual Benefit! :)

We hope this all helps! :)

- From All of the  I-ShopTheWorld.com Global Family