Did Your Last Purchase Support Slavery? An Interview with Robin Rossmanith from Shop to Stop Slavery

We’re thrilled for the release of Trade of Innocents  in the fall and want to invite you into our excitement. We’re interviewing people and organizations on the subject of human trafficking in preparation for the movie. Perhaps you’ve heard of some of our friends. Maybe some of these names will be new to you.

Today, we want to introduce you to Robin Rossmanith, creator of the Shop to Stop Slavery (STSS) website, a marketplace for slave-free products. Find in one place the brands you like and the products you love that eliminate poverty, provide fair wages, and restore former slaves to eliminate slavery worldwide:

1. What led to the formation and your involvement with Shop to Stop Slavery? How did you find out about the needs and how did you know where to start meeting them?  

I wanted to find a way that the majority of people could feel as though they were contributing to the fight against slavery. Many of our everyday products have slave labor in their harvesting, manufacturing, and production.  I was attending an internet marketing conference when STSS evolved. 

2. How would you describe the role of Shop to Stop Slavery and its impact in the fight to abolish trafficking?

STSS is one component of making consumers aware of their impact on forced labor and engages them in empowering survivors of human trafficking with their purchases. If you choose to stop buying items that are produced by slaves, the demand drops. Purchasing items that have been made by survivors of human trafficking, you are supporting a new lifestyle for those individuals. Shop To Stop Slavery provides timely recommendations about where to shop for every occasion. STSS also offers a variety of suggestions to help you teach your children about the issue.

3. What surprised you the most in learning about human trafficking?  

What surprised me the most were the young girls my daughter's age that are victims of domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States. Many of our missing kids in the United States are actually working the streets in forced prostitution.

4. How has your vision been shaped in this process?  

STSS is becoming part of a nonprofit called Limitless Hope, Inc.  As part of Limitless Hope, we will begin a retail store selling the same products and gifts from the stores promoted by STSS.  The retail store will educate the community about human trafficking and poverty, but even more importantly will work with foster kids, survivors of human trafficking, and at risk individuals to provide the vocational training, work history, and relationships to keep them from being vulnerable to false promises, abuses, and exploitation.

5. How can the average citizen get involved with Shop to Stop Slavery or help in the fight against human trafficking?  

STSS highlights stores and provides links  to many awesome social enterprises and NGOs that are working to eliminate slavery, exploitation, and extreme poverty.  People can choose to shop at these sites to support the businesses and non-profits that are impacting people's lives across the globe.  

6. What is one of your favorite memories from your time with Shop to Stop Slavery?  

I love getting to know new partners and ventures and hear their passion for changing the world.

7. If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things with you, what would they be?  

A blanket, a good book, and my husband

Thank you, Robin, for sharing Shop to Stop Slavery with us!

Like what STSS is doing? LIKE them on Facebook!

Be in the know—FOLLOW @shopstopslavery on Twitter.

 Stay current on all the latest news about Trade Of Innocents by visiting our website, or Facebook page, and view our new trailer on You Tube.