> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.jointheplayhouse.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Building a Progressive Marketplace for Conscious Consumers
- URL: https://www.jointheplayhouse.com/little-blue-cart-shop-your-values/
- Published: 2026-11-03T15:46:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T15:46:18.000Z
- Description: Kate Marshlord and Erin Fangman share how Little Blue Cart and Little Blue Market make it easier to support small businesses that share your values. 💙
- Author: Deanna Seymour
- Tags: Podcast

Here's the thing, I hate that online shopping platform that it seems like everyone uses as much as the next person, but as a tired mom carrying a big ol' emotional load and trying to grow my business... I sneak in an order here and there. 

I WANT to do better, but it's hard when that ding dong platform feels so easy. 😭

But, Kate and Erin created [Little Blue Cart](https://littlebluecart.com/?ref=jointheplayhouse.com) and [Little Blue Market](https://littlebluemarket.com/?ref=jointheplayhouse.com). Amazing resources that we can all use to have the same convenience of online shopping all in one place without having to support the big box douchebags of the world. 

When my friend [Melissa Mittelstaedt](https://www.melissamitt.com/?ref=jointheplayhouse.com) told me about it I knew I wanted to chat with the founders. So I sent the email inviting them on the podcast and they said yes! 

I was super stoked, and it's fun to hear that they're just like the rest of us! So listen in or read more below and sign up for their directory if ya want! 

![Podcast episode graphic reading “Building a Progressive Marketplace for Conscious Consumers with Kate Marshlord & Erin Fangman,” with the Little Blue Cart logo and a photo of the two founders on a blue background.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/08/47082276-ca13-46cf-b7b9-a0600df39552/content/images/2026/10/building-a-progressive-marketplace-kate-marshlord-erin-fangman.png)

[SUBSCRIBE TO BIG FUN, SMALL BUSINESS](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2592539?ref=jointheplayhouse.com)

### What Are Little Blue Cart and Little Blue Market?

[Little Blue Cart](https://littlebluecart.com/?ref=jointheplayhouse.com) is a directory of 1,800+ small businesses across the U.S., both service and product based, that share progressive values. [Little Blue Market](https://littlebluemarket.com/?ref=jointheplayhouse.com) is the shopping side, which Kate describes as what happens when Amazon and Etsy have a baby.

They came up with the idea when Erin needed a photographer for her daughter’s senior photos and asked Kate who took her son’s photos. 📸

> "Hey, who did your son’s photos?  
> And do you know if they voted for Trump?" 👀

### How to Shop Small Without the Mental Load

Erin and Kate get it: sometimes Amazon is the easy button, and there’s no judgment. Their approach is to take one purchase at a time, check a small business first, and plan ahead (early November for holiday shopping) because a real human is making your thing. And no, it won’t arrive in two days. 💙

### How to Get Listed (for Service Providers and Makers)

[Getting into the directory is free and you can apply here](https://littlebluecart.com/add-directory-listing/?ref=jointheplayhouse.com), and the marketplace has simple, low fees with no relisting fees. We also talk about how two people run all of this with no solid business plan, just the next right thing. 🙌

#### Hang out with Kate and Erin more...

Website: [Little Blue Cart](https://littlebluecart.com/?ref=jointheplayhouse.com)  
Marketplace: [Little Blue Market](link)