We had the good fortune of connecting with Jon Madray and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jon, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
As a successful business, it is your responsibility to give back whenever you can. Sometimes, even the simplest gestures can make the world of a difference.
During the pandemic, I started INSPXRE originally as a passion project to give back to communities in need. We made it so that 5% of our net profits would go to the charity of the customer’s choice. With every canvas sold, we helped communities in need around the world.
We donate directly to The Anxiety & Depression Society of America, Food for the Poor Organization, and The Make a Wish Foundation. Our mission is to inspire and motivate people through our art, while they themselves make a global impact to bring about positive change in the world.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
INSPXRE (pronounced as “inspire”) is an online art gallery that supplies motivational, inspirational, & pop culture pieces that lets the customer choose between 3 charities to give back to with their purchase. During the quarantine, I wanted to create something that gave back to communities in need, I just had to figure out what it was going to be and how. After creating a motivational canvas for a friend, I thought of creating a business out of it. As a huge believer of words of affirmation and the power of manifestation, I truly believe that if you constantly remind yourself of your purpose, it will keep you on the right track. From my phone’s background to the vision board on my wall, I always kept these reminders around me because it kept me going. I wanted to create something that would also motivate others in whatever industry they were working in AND had a greater cause.
We donate directly to The Anxiety & Depression Society of America, Food for the Poor, and The Make a Wish Foundation.
The three causes you are able to choose from were specifically chosen because of the areas they give back to. One giving back to the Caribbean and Latin America, another donating to mental health initiatives and the last, for kids struggling with critical illnesses. The reason I chose these causes is because of my own community and its current battles. My parents are from a country called Guyana, and while browsing the web one night, I discovered that it had one of the highest suicide rates in the world, a statistic that shocked me. From that moment on, I wanted to help in some way possible. The Food for the Poor Organization also provides lifesaving food, secure housing, clean water, healthcare, emergency relief, micro-enterprise projects and education opportunities in 17 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
That’s what sets my brand apart from others. You aren’t just purchasing a cool piece of art to motivate yourself, but you are also making a huge difference in the world by giving back!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you want to eat, hang out, watch a movie, or do some shopping I’d recommend visiting The Grove. If you want to party, there are so many local places to check out but my favorite has to be The Soho House. For sightseeing and all that jazz, hike on the Hollywood Hills or Runyon and check out The Griffith Observatory or any nearby beaches! Also, my fav burger joint is Astro Burger on Santa Monica!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am a firm believer that your environment and what you consume daily affects your life. When I say consume, I don’t just mean eat, but what you listen to, read, watch on tv, and who’s energy you’re surrounding yourself with. Being mindful of these things is essential and can really play an important role in your life. This is the core idea behind the motivational art pieces at INSPXRE. When you have these pieces up on your wall, our hope is that they will keep you on track and inspired to become the best version of yourself.
As for books, my recent favorites are ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle, ‘Millionaire Success Habits’ by Dean Graziosi, and “Think Like A Monk’ by Jay Shetty
Website: https://www.inspxre.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopinspxre
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspxre
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/shopinspxre
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspxre
Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopinspxre
Image Credits
Shani Hadjian Armando Ortega