First a podcast, and now a book! Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo will have their names in ink in just six months. Their book, The Hope We Hold: Finding Peace in the Promises of God is set to be released on May 4th, 2021. The book can be pre-ordered on Amazon.
The Vuolos also just launched an online shop called Hope and Stead, where they create designs that glorify Christ as the ultimate source of hope.
Jinger Vuolo, Michelle Duggar, Jordyn Duggar
Modeling hats for Hope and Stead
Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com
Goodness gracious! That little candle is $18! Too pricey in my opinion.
ReplyDelete@2:25 Then I guess you won't be paying $21 for a book from someone who "doesn't pretend to have all the answers" either. What an alluring description on Amazon!
DeleteThat I say too expensive!!! You can get a Yankee candle that size for a lot less. This is the stuff that boggles my mind to see Christian merchandise so over priced like this. I don't go into Christian book stores anymore for this reason. Why price Christian merchandise so high as if us Christians are all rich and can afford marked up prices like this? Sheesh!!
DeleteYou can get candles at the dollar store for a lot less too. There's nothing Christian about a certain candle.
DeleteAll the Christians the Duggars know are wealthy so why would they think that Christians couldn't afford that merchandise?
DeleteI’m sure some of their proceeds go to missions. I don’t understand why people have to be so negative.
Delete3:56 Some comments make a good point. If you want to be charitable, send the money directly to a good cause of your choice. Why go through the hassle of buying something rather expensive you likely don't need, plus pay shipping/handling, while the Vuolo's pocket some of it and decide where the rest goes? It just doesn't make sense. But, if what they are selling appeals to you, go for it!
DeleteI HOPE that inSTEAD of having that stuff made overseas that all their merchandise is made in the USA.
ReplyDeleteI also HOPE that a good portion if not all of the proceeds go to charity, specifically something local in LA that was impacted by Coronavirus. Hungry people or people losing their housing due to rent issues would be great.
There's no sense "glorifying Christ" through material things unless you also do something Christ-like in the process.
It says on the site that a portion will go to charity and mentions 2 charities.
DeleteOn the website it says which charities they are supoorting.
DeleteTotally agree.
Delete2:26, did you miss the part where part of the proceeds ARE going to charities? They don't say what percentage, but hopefully a significant amount.
Delete@12:29 At first on the website it didn't say that about the charity. That was added later!
DeleteThey actually didn’t specify that they were donating to charities until people started calling them out. When OP posted this I think they hadn’t yet.
Delete12:29 That part was added after the site initially launched.
DeleteAlmost $19 for a 4" high candle, plus whatever tax and shipping is (they say nothing on their site about shipping charges) - no thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe site says shipping calculated at checkout, similar to many websites.
DeleteI don't need to have a candle shipped to me. I can find candles in my own zip code. I can light any candle and stare at it and think Christian thoughts or pray. It doesn't need to be Jinger's candle.
DeleteI also found it odd to sell a simple candle. And it shows up at $21.75 for me!
DeleteWow that is ridiculous that a 4 inch candle cost $21.75!! How could a person with good conscience charge people that much money knowing how we see the lavish lifestyle that they are living. We already support ministries so why would we give them that much of our hard earned money so they can give a few cents of that to a ministry they choose and pile the profits into their over indulgent bank accounts? God said Don't Fleece the Sheep!! Don't make a profit off the sweat and hard work of us Christians!!! Sheesh what happened to the Duggars!!!
DeleteI’m so excited to see what the Lord is doing in Jinger and Jeremy’s life. God is so good! I love their little family and just can’t wait to see what and where God is leading them🙏❤️
ReplyDeleteAmen December 1st @3:06!
DeleteA new business venture? I hope it's successful. Unlike Jana, they actually seem to have products to sell.
ReplyDeleteLet's not diss Jana; this isn't about her.
DeleteDid you see the e store? There are barely any products.
DeleteDo you take the hats off in the house or do you keep them on to inspire everyone around you?
ReplyDelete😆
DeleteWell I figure it's their house and they can wear whatever they want. If they want to wear tan shoes with pink shoelaces, it's their prerogative. You know like the Bobby Brown song My Prerogative?
DeleteThese seem to be marketed to women, and etiquette rules only state that men have to remove hats indoors.
DeleteSince Duggars never take their hats off in the house, I'm guessing they would leave these on.
Delete11:36 Now you have singing the songs "Tan Shoes With Pink Shoelaces" and "My Prerogative"!😄🎶🎶
DeleteWhat happened to the coffee roasting business Jinger was going to start?
ReplyDeleteToo much work and requisite knowledge, likely.
DeleteShe never said she was going to start a coffee roasting business.... it was for the newly married couple to try roasting coffee... be kind
DeleteI was wondering about that too. Friends of mine started a coffee business by roasting their own unique blends of coffee and sold them by word of mouth until they made enough to open their own coffee shop that serves their unique blends and now they make homemade baked goods also that they sell there. The shop is awesome and something like what my friends have would have been perfect for Jinger and Jeremy to have and a great opportunity to witness too.
DeleteThey were only speculating, no actual business plans.
DeleteThey invested in a coffee roasting machine and everything. They were going to have Jinger's own blend.
DeleteYou seriously thought a Duggar woman was going to work?! Dream on!
DeleteAnon 3:17. I'm glad your friends are successful with their business. However I don't think that Jinger and Jeremy are going to put that sort of time and effort into a business. Putting stuff on a website to sell is not a major investment in time and effort.
DeleteWho knew that baseball caps glorified Christ. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteCandles and knit caps too!
DeleteHow does wearing a baseball cap glorify Christ?
ReplyDeleteLove this family! They are a great example of honoring our God. Thank you for these posts.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for their store inventory to increase. I'm going to definitely order the book. I'm always looking for good Biblical reading material.
ReplyDeleteNon-Bible Biblical reading material is an oxymoron.
DeleteHi Regina!! Thank you for your comments!! You are always a breath of fresh air 🤗
DeleteLet us know what you think about the book, Regina!
DeleteYou can read the Bible for free any day. There's always something new to discover. You don't need to pay 2 celebrities for a book of their opinions.
DeleteAbsolutely none of those items with the vague phrases on them are going to "glorify" Christ. What is "Hope BOLD," a command? A noun/verb and an adjective that don't go together? The olive hat could be something an olive oil company gave it employees. I don't get any of that.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Very strange sayings and logo.
DeleteI think the point is to spark conversations, but I don't know how often vague items like this accomplish that.
DeleteMaybe they meant “hope boldly,” but ran out of room for letters.
DeleteRead the product descriptions for the thinking behind each design.
DeleteAgreed. I understand they’re trying to be kinda of Joana Gaines here visually but it is my belief most people attracted to religious apparel and accessories are looking for a more obvious Christ focused message. HOPE or an olive branch on a hat doesn’t make me think of Christ. They need to be more more literal.
Delete@12:34 Unfortunately, the fronts of those hats do not come with the descriptions of the thinking behind each design, only some confusing words. People are so used to seeing random messages on hats and thinking nothing more of them that I doubt these hats are going to spark conversations or religious conversions.
DeleteTime 1:55AM Wed 12/2/20
ReplyDeleteCongrats Jeremy & Jing
Congrats to them!
ReplyDeleteThey've been busy during this time of quarantine! Excited for the book! Love them!
ReplyDeleteIt would be much more interesting to hear from Jill and Derick in my opinion. A book by Jinger and Jeremy just doesn’t seem that appealing. Plus according to the book description they’re the “break out stars” of Counting On? Huh? They seem to be in over their heads.
ReplyDeleteThe author blurb definitely seemed braggy. :(
DeleteI'm sure their handlers take care of making sure they aren't in over their heads.
DeletePersonally, I get more than I want from the magazines that Jill and Derick sell to magazines. Seems to me they're "spilling" a little at a time to different magazines. I remember how happy I was for Jill when Derick asked her to court him. I'm so disappointed that the entire story was brought out in the open. I didn't need to know all of that. Here's a shocker! TV shows are edited for content and time.
DeleteBut OP, it's a book about the highs and lows of their love story! What exactly were the lows? The time the soccer jersey pillow was in the wash? Almost not getting the big wedding V decorated in time?
DeleteA tell all from Jill and Derek!
DeleteThe author description was off-putting to me, and I'm no Jinger and Jeremy critic.
DeleteWe’re the Hope and Stead designs underwhelming for anyone else?
ReplyDeleteYES, OP. If I saw someone wearing those hats, I'd have no idea what they were trying to say. The products definitely miss the message mark they were trying to hit. What does Hope and Stead mean anyway, some sort of take on Homestead?
DeleteYes, not a fan, personally.
DeleteI'd see the words and think maybe they were some sports team or company slogan. After all, it's a ball cap, not a cross or a rosary.
DeleteThey only have like 6 products on their site.
ReplyDeleteThe site just started. They will have more products soon.
DeleteGood. Now I can just give everyone on my gift list a hat for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI like hats and would appreciate one for Christmas.
DeleteReally. Why don't they just ask for money. Everything is really expensive
ReplyDelete@Unknown They ARE asking for money. You don't offer something to sell unless you're making the profit.
DeleteI don't see how some embroidered hats glorify Christ. Glorify someone's bank account, maybe.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Everything looks pretty cheesy and uninspiring.
DeleteI'm not giving any money to this enterprise. I'm still wrapping my mind around Michelle in a checked shirt wearing a baseball cap.
DeleteI'm not sure in this day and age who can afford a hat or candle so expensive?
ReplyDeleteHats and a candle. Doesn’t seem like much of a shop. Maybe they’ll increase their inventory after seeing if they get any orders. How do you hope bold? Shouldn’t it say hope boldly?
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for opinions about the book before I buy one.
ReplyDeleteTo me, glorifying Christ is feeding, clothing and housing the poor, and then helping them find ways to do that for themselves. I don't think it's selling stuff.
ReplyDelete@2:19 You got it. Selling stuff seems...wrong. Intention may be there but actual action is not.
Delete3 Baseball caps, a small over-priced candle, and a beanie? I don't think this endeavor is going to support the lifestyle for two "break-out stars", but at least I am getting a good laugh out of it.
ReplyDeleteAt some point yesterday, they added the statement that a portion of the sales would go to charity. Then they list Jeremy's mother's project as their first favorite charity! So they're "giving" to their own family. They still don't disclose where these products are made, though. If overseas, that might go against the mission of their other favorite charity.
ReplyDeleteDoes his mother pocket the money? Why does it matter who runs the charity?
Delete@10:56 You could examine that charity's financial statements (if they filed them openly the way charities are supposed to) and find out what portion of the donations is paid to staff. Jeremy's mother is on staff.
DeleteIs anyone going to pay those prices for those items? Not I.
ReplyDeleteI’m happy for them, but I don’t see how this business could be successful, only 6 items to buy, and a little pricey. I think if you buy this stuff, your glorifying jinger and Jeremy
ReplyDeleteTo all the nay sayers.... if you don’t like what you see.. no one is twisting your arm to buy anything... if you can’t afford ... simply don’t buy... this is still America and we can buy and contribute where we see fit!! Jinger and Jeremy we love and adore your sweet little family... keep doing you and praising Jesus for the things he is doing in your life🙏❤️
ReplyDeleteAnd to all the yea sayers, it's inherently wrong to use Christ to make money for yourself. If Jesus saw them in the temple with their table of merchandise set up...
DeleteToo pricey for my pocketbook.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to dream big and are working to achieve their dreams. I admire that and wish them the best. The beautiful thing about the free market is that it will succeed or fail based on if there is a demand for their product and not how many rude posts their are about it. Congrats to them for giving it a try and I wish them the best. I am sure they will learn a lot in the next few months about what works and what doesn't. I am hopeful that their products in the future have a more direct message of Christ. There are some nice looking clothes out their that reference faith that I love. I hope they will move more in that direction.
ReplyDeleteDear Jinger & Jeremy, I can't wait for may 4th 2021 to get a copy of your book. Natasha b
ReplyDeleteThose are sure some L.A. prices on those things!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the book and shop. God Bless.
ReplyDeleteJoan,Marion and Marilyn
Maybe Jeremy and Jinger were meant to be entrepreneurs instead of a pastoral couple? Jeremy is studying, they're working for TLC, they’re raising a young family, doing their podcasts and now a business! How do they stay on top of it all?
ReplyDeleteSocial media influencers might make money, and they might even hustle, but to classify them as entrepreneurs is a slap in the face to entrepreneurship and real business owners.
DeleteThey're making money off Christianity! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteRecent pics of Jinger look to me like she has clear braces on her teeth. Does anybody else think so too?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do too.
DeleteThey are capitalizing on the Duggar name by selling overpriced merch. Doing good works and spreading the gospel is what glorifies Christ. Not selling baseball caps so they can go on vacation more often.
ReplyDeleteWow, in this picture, Jordyn, is really starting to favor James.
ReplyDeleteYou don't honor Christ by taking money from selling hats. My gracious. I don't understand their views of religion at all.
ReplyDelete7:56, you don't understand the part about donating money to charity from the proceeds?
DeleteIf you want to donate to charity there are much better ways to do it than to sell stuff and take a profit for yourself.
Delete"Part" of their money, some unspecified part, is going to his mother's charity. The rest of the money is going to their own pocket. Why are there always strings attached any time the Duggars do these things?
DeleteThe site looks very beginner and the prices are very high. But that's just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteSome of you really seem to dislike anything they do.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they can ever do much if any good in your eyes
I’d be impressed if they volunteered in a soup kitchen or something like that. I don’t buy into this “spreading the Gospel” stuff. They make money off of it, plain and simple. I suppose he’ll be the next TV-evangelist, raking in millions.
DeleteOh, they CAN do good in our eyes. They aren't doing it right now though.
DeleteTrue words, Frazzled Mom
DeleteAre they "glorifying Christ" by giving all the proceeds to charity? Ha.
ReplyDeleteYes, a portion of all proceeds after they fund their lavish lifestyle will go toward a charity, possibly those run by his mom or her brothers.
DeleteGlorify Christ? With such prices? I guess shopping in a thrift store (save the difference!!) is long ago for Mrs. Vuolo.
ReplyDelete"A portion of all proceeds will go to selected charities and nonprofits"
ReplyDeleteHow much? One percent?
...To Mom Vuolo's charity, their own charity.
DeleteOne percent of one percent, I think.
DeleteUnless they're a non-profit they don't have to disclose that. It's simply feel-good words otherwise.
DeleteAll the proceeds should go to charity.
DeleteHey Lillie and Ellie, love the blog! I was wondering when you guys are planning to update the banner up top? It's missing Evangeline and Evelyn, and Claire too!
ReplyDeleteI love to read so I'll probably buy the book.
ReplyDeleteLook....the Bible says to spread the good word of the gospel.....these items do that and Jinger and Jeremy surely do that. People are complaining about them making money on these products, companies that publish and sell Bibles make money, pastors and priests are paid. We live in America, we are free to worship how we choose and work at what brings us fulfillment.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing more and more misery on display in these comments. One person complains because they'd better be making their products in the USA. Another person complains that the prices are too high. Yet another complains about the words on the hats. You know you all can start your own companies and do it your own way, right? You can grown your own cotton, spin the yard, weave the fabric, sew the hat, embroider your own choice of words on it, and charge your own price. Freedom is a great thing.
ReplyDeleteWhat does Hope and Stead even mean? I am really really confused.
ReplyDeleteI find the tactic to sell cheaply, oversea produced clothing and accessories with a massive margin extremely condemnable. It’s destroying jobs in America and it looks as if they are not able to fund their life with honest work. Maybe it’s time to scale down and life within your means then? They look more and more like the priests in the temple than Chris like. I think they need to read their bible again and really look at their actions through the eyes of a Christian. Jesus will judge all of us in the end and right now it seems he isn’t fully accepted in their hearts anymore.
Did you miss the irony in judging them yourself?
DeleteIt's OK to say someone's behavior or actions are wrong, if they are. God gave us the ability to discern right from wrong. It's the same skill we're supposed to use in order to live in His word.
DeleteAnonymous @8:03- Unless I miss my guess, it's Jeremy & Jinger who are billing themselves as the "breakout stars of Counting On" (that's called self-promotion) and they're looking to cash in on their "fame". They're selling very over-priced products, being marketed as "Christian". That's no mistake. IF you read your Bible, we are in fact to judge those inside the Church BY THEIR FRUIT (their actions, words, and deeds as a whole over time). They've both been claiming Christ for a long time. Their behavior in the last year has been inconsistent. Buy over over-priced "Christian" merchandise and they'll donate to a family-run music charity and a second charity, while Jeremy attends seminary classes and Jinger wears her $300 Rodeo Drive jacket on date nights around LA. Because that's exactly what Jesus and the disciples did...NOT. Where is Jesus in that?
DeleteWhat are "breakout stars?" How are they the "breakout stars" of Counting On? Huh???
ReplyDeleteI think it's time for this family to stop trying to be celebrities and get on with their lives. Could they do that at this point, or are they already too much into being famous that they have no idea how to live privately and no means to do it? If that's the case, then I feel sorry for them and the people who added to it all these years. It's not good to have your identity be "breakout stars" or "stars" of any sort. You're at the mercy of public opinion and you bend and twist your life to gain it. Who's in charge then?
ReplyDeleteHow are they going to promote their book?
ReplyDeleteOn their pod cast and this blog.
DeleteI wish them well with this enterprise but think their market is very limited. Only the most ardent Duggar fans are likely to buy these overpriced mundane items they're selling.
ReplyDeleteThe prices seem right on par when you look at many other sites and boutique type places.
DeleteI wonder if the book and podcast are part of Jeremy's requirements for his master's degree? I mean maybe he got permission to use these in place of a master's thesis or something like that? I ask because I don't understand having the time and resources to do these projects while in a graduate program. I also am wondering if he has other aspirations than becoming a pastor of a church again. I could see him just being an author of Christian books and a paid speaker for events, or possibly a professor teaching at a Christian university. Of course, since they are break-out stars, who knows? Big things ahead, I suppose $$$$!
ReplyDeleteSomehow it feels wrong to try to personally profit this way. You're not really giving people hope, you're giving them a baseball cap with some unclear words on it, and making them pay for it. Besides, I doubt anyone truly hopeless has the money to buy such an item.
ReplyDeleteIt would be better to give the whole $20 to a charity where it will provide some tangible help, not in the form of caps and candles but in the form of food, rent help, or gas to get to a job or a job interview. This year that's more important than ever.
I agree.
DeleteTake the $20. Buy a grocery store gift card. Give it to someone you know who's in need. You just boldly gave hope and did Christ's work on earth, no shipping and handling needed.
ReplyDeleteso true
DeleteI'd prefer to see the Duggars give quite a bit of their money and stuff away (those infamous Duggar warehouses full would definitely help lots of deserving people) and spend their time volunteering in soup kitchens, feeding the hungry, using those house-flipping/construction/decorating skills doing free labor for the poorer low-income citizens in their community/Habitat for Humanity/elderly people or single moms/domestic abuse shelters in their area. God never gives you the ability to make money so you can build a financial empire for yourselves and your family members. You're supposed to be a pipeline, funneling it to meet others needs (following Jesus' example). You'll never out give God.
Delete@7:50 Yes. If Jimmy Carter can do those things at his age and with his health, then any Duggar can. Jimmy's been doing good for others for decades and will be well-remembered for it.
DeleteTo: 8:01 PM----- AMEN!!!!!!!!
DeleteI don't see how they're spreading any hope by taking money for themselves from the sale of hats and candles. They aren't doing this as a way to fund a new charity where 100% of the proceeds would help the less fortunate. It's a business for themselves! Didn't it occur to them how this business would be perceived by the public?
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that other people are allowed to have small businesses and donate part of the proceeds to charity, but this couple is not? Are Christians not allowed to sell anything with a hint of a religious nature, only secular objects?
Delete@3:10 Maybe it's because we haven't been seeing much Jesus First, Others Second, Yourself Last with any of the Duggars lately.
DeleteJesus isn’t a business, yo.
DeleteIt appears their prices have gone up. Wasn’t the candle $18 and hats $21 just a couple of weeks ago?
ReplyDelete