Tuesday, June 2, 2026

When they realized that poverty stricken women were using sacks to make clothes for their children, some flower mills started using flowered fabric for their sacks. [1939]

 


9 comments:

  1. Who knew a business could be kind?

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  2. My grannies made me many a shirt from Gingham Girl flour sacks

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  3. Kindness? Business.

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    1. It does happen. They seem rare these days, but there are some still around.... The few I've seen are local small biz - the 'big-boys' are glazed-over striving for higher profits.

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    2. Most of today's businesses are not in the "business" of giving away large amounts of profits. This flour sack company simply adorned their white four sacks with a simple print. It was not a big deal for them but for desperate American faced with the Great Depression, it meant a lot.

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    3. Two multimillionaires I know:

      1) Third generation owner of a privately held company that produces car parts. The owner donates 65% of his salary to charities including food banks. He sits as chairman of a foundation he started which provides scholarships in the arts and sciences.

      The area of his private residence experiences power outages. He built a generator room which houses two large generators. The sole purpose for the 2nd gen is to provide power to his neighbors.
      He also built a large walk-in cold storage. The purpose for this is that anyone who so desires can store perishable foods during outages.
      Out of his own pocket, from his own heart.

      2) Truly a rags to riches story, this man founded a company which specialises in LTL freight. His company now owns 28 trucks. He has formed a scholarship program targeting poor families. He also donates large six figures annually to local charities.
      He hires employee family members if they have the desire and some knowledge. He trains them up in a professional setting to enlarge their skills.

      He founded an org which identifies 2 or 3 families per year which are in need for home remodeling, then provides labor and material for the work. He also donates significantly to area churches for international missions.

      The pessimist might say they do it for the tax breaks. Maybe so, but that is not their primary reason. I know these men to be gracious and kind hearted.

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  4. Builds the brand, sells more of their flour for minimal cost. Good PR is always cheaper than advertising. Business.

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    1. The only "bad" publicity is your obituary.

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  5. My grandmother and her sisters had competitions to who could make the best blouse or skirt out of the sacks. They NEVER felt they were poor.

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