How We Started
You may have heard the quote, "Every dollar you spend is a vote you cast for the world you want." We believe that. That's why everything you buy with Simple Switch has a quantifiable positive impact on our world and the people in it. You'll get on Simple Switch, fill your shopping cart with items you actually need or want, like toilet paper or a dress for that wedding you have next month. Upon check out you'll have reduced the likelihood of a child dying from preventable disease, provided employment for a woman recently freed from sexual slavery, or helped a company use innovative techniques to reduce waste and pollution. It's that easy.
My name is Rachel, and I am the founder of Simple Switch. Three years ago, I had the chance to be a business consultant for entrepreneurs in the poorest parts of South Africa. I was so impressed by what they created and learned so much from them, but also understood what privilege I had. When I came back I knew I wanted to use my every day choices to empower those with less resources, but I came back to the United States and found out it was really hard. Hours of research about company ethics, labor laws, and environmental impact just weren't sustainable in my busy life. I wanted to make a positive impact, but felt exhausted every step of the way. That was when I decided to start Simple Switch—the hope was that people like me could have an easier way to spend their money on products that helped them vote for the world they wanted.
The companies we're working with have committed to improve livelihoods, protect our beautiful earth, and empower people to change our future. I firmly believe that even if only one person ever used this platform, the impact created would be worth the work of creating and sustaining this company. However, with your help, Simple Switch will become a wide-spread tool used around the world.
Rachel Kois, Founder & CEO
Entreprenuer. Speaker. Difference Maker. Hobby Homesteader.
Rachel Kois (she/her) founded Simple Switch in 2017 out of her own customer frustration. Why was making a purchase with positive impact when shopping online so much harder than making a negative one? Since then she's been obsessed with making it easy for all individuals and businesses to shop in alignment with our values.
Rachel credits her strengths as a founder to her entreprenuerial parents, her supportive community, an amazing education at CU Boulder (Go Buffs!) and the privilege of having traveled to 28 countries and learned about the problems Simple Switch is trying to solve first hand from a diverse range of experts.