Labor Source 30 for 30 - Ramble on Pearl

Labor Source, the supported employment division of Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department, is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year.

To honor this important milestone, each week I am publicly thanking and recognizing Labor Source’s many local business partners.

Supported employment offers people who have a disability the opportunity to develop vital job skills and become active participants in their communities. The benefits extend far beyond helping individuals served by Imagine!, however. Businesses using our services are able to reduce recruitment and training expenses as they benefit from a diversified employee pool. Partnering with CORE/Labor Source is a “win-win” situation that is beneficial all around. We are very grateful to our business partners who have demonstrated their commitment to Imagine!’s mission by employing CORE/Labor Source participants.

Today’s Labor Source 30 for 30 partner highlight: Ramble on Pearl. 

I thought I’d end this series about our business partners by highlighting one of our newest partners – one with a very similar mission to Imagine!.

Ramble on Pearl is a brand new specialty shop offering premium manufacturers of recreational and active lifestyle clothing and accessories at least 30% below retail.

While the store concept is a unique addition to Boulder’s retail landscape, what makes Ramble on Pearl truly revolutionary is their relationship with Boulder Treasures, Inc., their nonprofit corporate parent, founded in 2013. Boulder Treasures was established to create pathways to meaningful employment for adults with cognitive disabilities through on-the-job training, work experience, and job placement services provided within a retail store established, designed, and staffed specifically for that purpose. At Ramble on Pearl, apprentices will learn transferrable job skills by working alongside specially trained professional retail staff. Their goal is to become a trusted source of enthusiastic and reliable employees for the broader employment market.

September 5 was day one for the first two apprentices at Ramble on Pearl (pictured below). They did so well! They're already sizing items on the floor, hanging clothing, folding tags, putting stickers on bags, and learning the layout of the store. Nice work apprentices!

Thank you, Ramble on Pearl, for this unique approach to providing employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I look forward to many years of a successful collaboration.