These days Fashion is becoming a tougher and tougher sale.

Not only are people scared for their own pocketbooks in this tough economy, but they are sympathetic of others that may be even more adversely affected.

Also, contrary to perception of retail sales reports, job losses and industry bail-outs people are still spending money.

Case and point Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.  He raised more than any other presidential candidate in history…in one of the toughest economies in history.  Was it a miracle?  Maybe so.  But essentially people were buying into what they believed could be a better future.  To many people the ideas he presented were worth buying into in any economy.

That said…my point is that people who have money to spend want to spend their money responsibly.  They want to spend their money on not only things that matter but concepts and ideas that really matter to them.

As retailers and manufactures we have to ask ourselves…How responsible are we?  Are we keeping up corporate responsibility efforts in challenging times, doing the right thing and finding ways to support a greater good?

Whether you’re selling sweaters, sweatsuits or hope in a jar…find a way to use your products to make a difference. That difference could not only make a difference to society but to your business as well.