Online Retailer Uses Activism as Currency

Indie online clothing retailer Aplomb revamped its business model to eliminate cash exchange and instead promote the exchange of ideas.

Creative individuals write articles about things they want to advocate for and post their written content (from articles to music lyrics) to Aplomb’s community website. Topics range across a wide variety –- from gun control to LGBT rights. People read the content and vote on the cause. Site members gain points by contributing ideas and voting on others’ ideas. The causes that get the most votes get turned into visual representations by up-and-coming artists that are printed on Aplomb’s clothing. Site visitors use points (not money) to buy the clothing, so they can literally wear their support of the cause. Read more...