Sponsor Tribe Love - Welcome Hope Returns

I set an intention of creating a tribe of women who believed in each other, held space to support each other and who I would love to go have tea with and sit and talk for hours.

Sponsor Tribe Love is a way to share unique businesses and skills from some of this tribe with you. I have so much gratitude for their support.

Meet Virginia Hopkins and Crystal Gadwah Gantz. These two women are very special friends of mine, people who make my life all the more richer. Even though the giveaway is local, I know you will all be inspired by this story of friends creating something wonderful together. Local mamas check out the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

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hope returns is a children’s resale and gift shop in the Summit neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. hope returns carries gently used children’s clothing newborn to size 10, as well as equipment, books, toys and shoes. hope returns also features handcrafted gifts such as heirloom quality wooden toys, dress up clothing, Peruvian sweaters, and herbal teas designed for Moms and kids. hope returns strives to offer a wide variety of affordable items, not easily found elsewhere, in a fun and kid friendly environment. Our resale inventory is purchased from our customers, fostering a unique and ongoing relationship with both customers and the community.

We are hope returns: Crystal and Virginia, two Providence moms with five young girls between us. In our former lives, we were a Biologist and a Social Worker. Unknown to us at the time, our journey began when we met four years ago as our oldest girls entered Kindergarten together. We were seeking a career that would allow us flexibility to explore and follow our creative passions without compromising the care of and commitment to our families. When word came that an existing children’s shop was available for purchase, hope returns was born. Midnight brainstorming became commonplace as the ideas formed and the plan developed. Two friends became much closer, and the legal contracts sealed the deal. We bought the existing business in July, closed for a month for renovations, and reopened as hope returns in August of 2011.

For the two of us, the equal partnership extends beyond the business. The most compelling aspect of this woman-owned business is the support we are able to offer one another in the raising of our children and in the building of the business. Due to our families’ schedules, we are both the primary caregivers of our children. So, when one is at work, a sick child can be picked up by the other, or carpooling can include several destinations. It is this unwavering support that has made the impossible almost possible: finding the balance between home and work.

hope returns is a baby in the business world; growing and evolving each day. It is a space that is available for browsing, for kids to play, for families to chat and vent and relax. It is a business that we can all feel good about both financially and environmentally.

We are part of our community in a way that we hope to be proud of and to nurture in years to come. And the same goes for our friendship!

Connect with Virginia and Crystal on Facebook

The Hope Returns Website

For today's giveaway of a gift card for $25.00 for all you local mamas, leave a comment and tell us about the benefits of second hand shopping in your lives and if you if you have ever found a real 'gem' second hand. And give Hope Returns some love on their FB page!