Two months ago, two young Arvada men launched ShareBrands, a business with a simple mission — to help heal the world.

Developed by Connor Knutson and Justin Hoffman, ShareBrands was created as a way to be socially responsible and promote awareness through conscious commerce.

“We sell lifestyle brand, consumer-style products that help an underlying cause,” Connor Knutson, co-founder of ShareBrands said. “Look at the items you own, headphones, grocery bags — how many items contain meaning beyond that?”

Launched late in 2013, the online company sells items such as earbuds, yoga mats and cellphone cases, each with a color specific logo, representing six broad causes: Men and Children’s health, Poverty, Women and Children’s health, Current Disasters and Education. Each cause has a corresponding nonprofit, to which twenty-five percent of every purchase is given.

“There is a huge variety of different products people could buy, it’s really endless,” said Justin Hoffman, co-founder of ShareBrands. “When someone buys our product we want them to tell their friends and family about it, to share the story.”

Each product is available in six color categories matching a specific cause, red-poverty, pink-women’s and children’s health, black-current disasters, green-environment, yellow-education, and blue-men’s and children’s health. By purchasing one of their products, a consumer is actively supporting a related nonprofit while helping impact different socioeconomic issues throughout the world.

“Friendship Bridge clients benefit from ShareBrands model because the consumer takes an active role in positive socioeconomic impact,” said Tori Barnett, the marketing and communications director with Friendship Bridge, ShareBrands Poverty Partner nonprofit. “A portion of the consumers purchase empowers the very poor, rural women in Guatemala through microcredit and education.”

Currently, the company offers nine products for purchase, but they are looking to expand their product line and begin to sell their products in big-box retailers such as Nordstrom, Trader Joes and Whole Foods.

“We’re working really hard to prove this model throughout the next year,” Knutson said. “If we can leverage those dollars to go to something that matters, it can really make a difference.”

Outside of promoting awareness through products, the guys at ShareBrands hope to have an event every quarter such as a 5k, hikes, food drives and more as ways to engage with the community and promote local causes.

“They (Hoffman and Knutson) have come alongside of us not only as a company, but as a family,” said Brittany Froistad, founder of Rays of Grace, ShareBrands Education Partner. “Their mission is a beautiful example of giving back in an effective way.”

To learn more about the company and causes, visit www.sharebrands.org.