by Carla Ruschival
The ACB Virtual Mini Mall is the place for useful, fun, and unusual products for home, school and work. Whether you are shopping for the kids, mom or dad, the boss or neighbor, or the senior set, you'll find the perfect product for every occasion.
When you shop at the ACB Mall, you help the American Council of the Blind in several ways. Proceeds from every product support the work of the American Council of the Blind. The more products we sell, the more ACB can help people who are blind or visually impaired.
Another way you help the American Council of the Blind is by purchasing and using ACB logo merchandise. When you wear an ACB T-shirt or carry an ACB gym bag, when you give a friend an ACB ceramic travel mug or a sleek ACB magnet, you are spreading the word about ACB and its good work. If you keep CDs in our round fabric-lined wooden box with the ACB logo on top, and that box sits on your desk at work, you are raising awareness about ACB with everyone who visits your office. When your sister-in-law adds an ACB car magnet to her van and drives her kids to their soccer game, she is telling hundreds, maybe thousands, of people about the American Council of the Blind.
ACB Treasures
The ACB Treasures Shop is the first store to open in the Mini Mall. The ACB Treasures collection includes an expanded line of ACB logo merchandise and special products that commemorate ACB events. The first two Treasures designs, Full Steam Ahead and Day at the Races, commemorate the 2012 convention in Louisville, Ky. 2013 designs include Discovery, Galaxy Swirl, and New Stars. Future designs will recognize ACB conferences and conventions, holidays, and significant events or accomplishments.
Visit the many fun departments in the ACB Treasures shop. Find iPhone cases with tactile ACB logos in the Case Place. Grab a new T-shirt, sweatshirt, or pair of yoga pants or PJ's, or shop for baby, kids, junior sizes - all with the ACB logo or a special ACB Treasures design, and all at the Clothes Rack. Let your guide dog or pet get in on the fun; visit the 4 Paws Boutique for doggie tees and hoodies, stoneware pet bowls, and pet tags, all with the ACB logo. Stop by Bags and Tags for a gym bag, beach tote, leather mini wallet or elegant satiny clutch. Explore Puzzles and Plush, the Home Center, The Gift Basket, and ACB About Town for soft huggable bears, cookie jars, mugs and steins, water bottles, keepsake boxes and much, much more.
October Features
Discovery: Christopher Columbus first arrived in the New World on Oct. 12, 1492. The theme of the 2013 ACB Conference and Convention in Columbus, Ohio, was "ACB: Discover New Worlds."
The ACB Treasures design of the month is Discovery. It features the explorer's flagship, the Santa Maria, sailing to the New World, flanked by his other two ships, the Nina and the Pinta. The image depicts the little brown boats with their white sails, the vast blue-green ocean, and the light blue sky with thin white clouds. It includes the ACB logo and the words "Discovering New Worlds," and is available with or without the words "Columbus, Ohio" added to the caption.
You'll find Discovery on T-shirts, sweatshirts, blanket wraps, mugs, steins, cookie jars and much more. All Discovery products are available online and can also be ordered by phone.
Columbus T-Shirt: Did you miss out on the official 2013 T-shirt with its Columbus theme? The shirts are red with a silver gray sketch of the Santa Maria on the front and the caption, "American Council of the Blind, Discover New Worlds, 2013 National Conference and Convention, Columbus, Ohio." The back of the shirt shows the Santa Maria in the center surrounded by the conference sponsors. Limited quantities in youth sizes S, M and L, and adult sizes M, L, XL, and 5XL. Phone orders only, please.
Mini Mall Catalog
Our Mini Mall Catalog includes items from the ACB Treasures shop PLUS canes, SD card holders, conference pouches, audio-described DVDs, talking thermostats, accessible games, and more. Download in text (txt) or Microsoft Word (doc) formats from the Mall home page. Or request a copy in braille, large print or audio CD by calling 1-877-630-7190.
Contact Us
Visit the ACB Virtual Mini Mall by following its link from the ACB home page at www.acb.org. Subscribe to the mall e-mail list by sending a blank message with the word "subscribe" (minus the quotes) in the subject line to [email protected]. Reach us by phone by calling 1-877-633-7190.