From Marketplace to Mission
SCALING SUCCESS AND SERVING NEWCOMERS
Growth is something to be celebrated, and while day-to-day business operations often keep us busy, it's essential to pause and reflect on how dedication and hard work can blossom into something remarkable! This is especially true for Peripeti Home, a home fragrance line now well into its second year as a social enterprise of Building Hope in the City (BHITC). Peripeti Home’s growth is visible in every way: the team is expanding, its customer base is widening, and its impact is deepening. At the core of it all, Peripeti Home is driven by a powerful mission—to empower refugee women and provide meaningful work opportunities—which is at the heart of our partnership!
At BHITC, we believe that pursuing business success and the common good go hand in hand. As Proverbs 11:25 reminds us, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” With every milestone, Peripeti Home is creating more opportunities to support our international friends served by The Hope Center—individuals who have come to the U.S. seeking peace, stability, and hope. As the business flourishes, so does our capacity to empower these newcomers.
Hiba Ainane, a former Peripeti Home employee from Morocco, shares how her time spent working there prepared her for her current role. “I enjoyed my time at Peripeti and the work,” Hiba reflects. “I learned to be responsible and efficient, and how to work with a team in production. My experience was both accommodating and enriching.”
This year, Peripeti Home received a large corporate gifting order, creating seasonal job opportunities for refugees and immigrants referred by The Hope Center. In response, Peripeti Home Founder and Creative Director Kate Walsh Dodok recently visited the Hope Center to introduce these opportunities to our students and staff. Additionally, residents from the BHITC Clark-Fulton and Stockyards footprint were invited to apply for positions as well, helping with sorting, packaging, and preparing products for shipment, providing hands-on work experience that paves the way for future growth.
Peripeti Home’s reach has expanded within Cleveland, with products available in local stores like Océanne Studio & Boutique in Detroit-Shoreway, the Home for the Holidays Pop-Up Boutique in Lakewood, The Print Shop in Bay Village, and more. “When we opened our storefront, I inquired about a possible collaboration with Peripeti Home and loved learning the process of developing a scent. Kate and I spent a lot of time creating our now signature candles, and we shared a lot of special moments together!” shares the owner of Océanne Studio & Boutique, Anne Harrill. The product can also be found in five other stores nationwide!
This year, Peripeti Home also celebrated the launch of its Amazon store—a huge milestone making it easier for supporters nationwide to shop with purpose! Corrie Purdum, Executive Administrator of HopeWorks LLC, shares, “It's always wonderful to hear what our customers love about our products, and they do an amazing job of spreading the word to their friends and family. We're excited each time someone new discovers our brand, and expanding our availability allows that to happen. New growth means more good, and that's always something to celebrate.”
We are deeply grateful to witness how the Kingdom impact of Peripeti Home grows alongside its business success. This relationship between growth and mission serves as a reminder of the Father’s love for all people, especially for those who find themselves in new and unfamiliar lands. As Leviticus 19:34 calls us, “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Our partnership with Peripeti Home allows us to live out this commandment, demonstrating love, opportunity, and dignity for every individual who joins our community.
Join us in celebrating this journey of growth, where every success story sows seeds of hope and transformation in the lives of our refugee neighbors and Cleveland community at large.
