Open to All’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide Harnesses Consumer Purchase Power In Support Of Frontline Workers and Inclusive Businesses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Calla Devlin Rongerude, Open to All | calla@opentoall.com | 415.250.2420

OPEN TO ALL’S 2021 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE HARNESSES CONSUMER PURCHASE POWER IN SUPPORT OF FRONTLINE WORKERS AND INCLUSIVE BUSINESSES 

BOULDER, CO, NOVEMBER 18, 2021 — Today, Open to All released its annual Open to All Holiday Gift Guide to encourage consumers to use their purchase power this holiday season to support inclusive businesses and frontline workers. Open to All is the nation’s largest nondiscrimination campaign galvanizing leaders in business, civic engagement, and the nonprofit sector in support of shared American values of fairness and equality. The Holiday Gift Guide features products from small businesses and some of the most iconic brands at every price point from an array of inclusive retailers, celebrating the core principle that any business that is open to the public should make every person feel safe and welcome—regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion or disability. 

“In the long haul that is the Covid pandemic, we saw businesses large and small shutter stores and scale back services to keep us all safe. In a time of crisis and lost profits, businesses could have cut back on their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Instead, Open to All businesses of all sizes demonstrated their commitments in myriad ways,” said Calla Devlin Rongerude, Director of Open to All. “With our Holiday Gift Guide, we want to encourage people to give the gift of inclusion. At a time of deep divisions, Open to All’s coalition of 200+ nonprofits and 500,000+ businesses are joining together to build a thriving and inclusive nation where all are welcome. When we value our employees and care for our customers and each other, we all thrive.”

Throughout 2021, Open to All collaborated with nonprofit and corporate partners to address the vulnerability of frontline workers. As tensions run high and retailers are asked to enforce safety measures, including mask mandates, amid the global pandemic, frontline workers often can face the brunt of customer frustration, which can often manifest in racist or discriminatory ways. While retailers have long trained frontline workers to respect and serve a diverse customer base, now customers are being asked to join as part of the solution.

Earlier this year, Open to All launched Inclusive Retail, a groundbreaking initiative that puts tools and resources in the hands of businesses and customers alike to ensure the inclusion, safety, and acceptance of those on the frontlines of retail: floor staff and sales associates. Inclusive Retail offers new resources to foster inclusivity and create safe shopping experiences for everyone in retail environments.

The Customer Action Center features resources and tools that empower customers to practice effective allyship if they see an employee receiving unjust treatment from another customer, including:

• allyship resources created by Hollaback!, which designs and distributes trainings and campaigns on discrimination and harassment;
• in-depth videos about allyship and implicit bias; and
• a new Customer Pledge where consumers can affirm the values of being Open to All.

For the first time, customers can collectively signal their commitment to being Open to All. Similar to Open to All’s Business Pledge, the Customer Pledge allows customers to declare that they believe everyone — including employees, visitors, vendors, clients and other customers — should feel safe, respected, and accepted regardless of who they are.

Inclusive Retail provides businesses and customers with the tools necessary to create a welcoming environment for all while shedding light on the increased challenges retail workers face. Open to All encourages consumers to visit the Customer Action Center and sign the pledge as they do their holiday shopping. 

The Open to All Holiday Gift Guide features a wide array of inclusive businesses, from small businesses across the country to corporate partners—all that invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

View the Open to All Holiday Gift Guide here.

Businesses that wish to join Open to All can learn more and sign the pledge at http://www.opentoall.com/business-members/#business-pledge.

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About Open to All 

Open to All is one of the most significant public education efforts to date that unites and galvanizes national leaders in business, civic engagement, and the nonprofit sector to take a stand for shared American values of fairness and equality. In addition to the thousands of business members, Open to All includes more than 200 nonprofit members spanning civil rights and racial justice organizations; LGBT equality organizations; health and disability organizations; faith organizations; and more. Open to All members are committed to building awareness and understanding about the importance of nondiscrimination—and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All.