Indoor Sales Opportunities for Women

October 2008 - Hope in Shadows has set up a new program to support female calendar sellers.

The indoor sales opportunities to sell the Hope in Shadows calendar and book include Christmas concerts, craft fairs, and markets. Moreover transportation to and from the events is provided and the women receive a commission from calendar and book sales.

"We've found that selling the calendar on the street is not viable option for all women," says project coordinator Carolyn Wong. "This year we've obtained a few indoor sites including Granville Island where women will be selling calendars, although I encourage the public to support any of the licensed street sellers - male or female."

Women sellers, including Josette ("Joe") Mangatal were at the Granville Island table in late November and were fortunate to attract the attention of CTV, Vancouver 24 hours and Metro Vancouver.

Joe Mangatal is a 46-year-old Downtown Eastside mom, contest winner and calendar seller also featured in the Hope in Shadows book. For Joe, the extra income at Christmas time has meant a lot. She and her partner Russ work as a team and are often found on the south-west corner of Granville and Broadway.

"We've been able to give gifts to our five children and nine grandchildren," says Joe who hopes to put this year's earnings towards purchasing a car. Moreover, Joe says the sales experiences have helped her gain confidence and communicate better. "It makes me

feel good because people are coming up to you on a one-to-one basis and they are treating you nice. We've had people from all over the world buy it."

Another seller, Skyla Sund, is a past contest winner and has been selling the calendar for several years. Her personal story is also featured in the recently published Hope in Shadows book, which was awarded the Vancouver City Book Award this month. "It's given me self-esteem," says Skyla about her Hope in Shadows experiences. "It's actually gotten me to writing my own life stories."