The Shared Bag shifts their model to non-profit to focus on training sewing skills

Suanny Aranguren was part of the 2nd cohort of our accelerator in 2021

Why did Suanny join the Circular Innovation Accelerator?

She joined our program to find a way to reduce textile waste and increase the sales of their reusable produce bags (made from second hand textiles). Together, we transitioned her business model away from sales (focusing on grants & securing partnerships) and focused in on her personal values of teaching clothing repair and sewing skills to people who are new-to-Canada.

What business model did you join the program with?

The Shared Bag handmade bags in-house with their small team, to encourage using produce bags made of reused materials instead of the increasingly popular cotton reusable bags. Their business relied on revenue from the sale of bags to consumers across Canada and they charged minimal fees for sewing and repair workshops targeted at folks who were new to Toronto.

How did your business model change in the program?

They changed their business structure to a non-profit running free workshops funded by partners (e.g. sponsors, grants, partners), shifting their revenue from high-effort small amounts to high-value funding that is more sustainable for the organization. Throughout the program, we connected them with strategic partners to provide space to host their events including the Toronto Tool Library - who are still their dedicated co-hosts for public workshops!