YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A BIG COMPANY TO GIVE BACK
Every so often, you hear about a company that integrates philanthropy into its mission. Much has been written, for example, about Santa Monica-based TOMS and its "One for One" philosophy, under which it donates a pair of shoes to a poor child with every sale it makes. That "buy one, give one" philosophy has been adopted by other successful companies, such as online eyeglass retailer Warby Parker.
You don't have to be big to incorporate giving into your business plan. All you have to do is think creatively, and focus on what is important to you, said Toni Padron, executive vice president and COO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, who has worked with dozens of small businesses through the Chamber's Pathways program, a peer advisory group.
"TOMS and the larger companies are not the only ones that can do those types of things," Padron said. "It's like we at the Chamber always tell our members: you, the small-business person can do the same thing and make just as great of an impact on the local community as larger companies make globally."
A LOCAL EXAMPLE
Like many retailers, Christine Davis of Coolest Shoes in California was ending 2013 with a surplus of unsold shoes in styles that were being discontinued by their manufacturers for the new year. After fall clearance sales, she still had about 60 pairs of shoes she needed to get off the books. A retail consultant suggested she sell them to a liquidator, but Davis decided she wanted to take another route.
"Since we are not going to be carrying these particular styles and colors in 2014, we felt it best to donate them at the end of the year, rather than liquidate them, so that they could go to good use," Davis said. "Finding a local venue to donate to was also important so that the benefits could be realized right here in our community."
Since she specializes in the sale of women's shoes, Davis said she also wanted to find a place that would benefit women. After bringing the issue up to her Pathways group she discovered the perfect place in another Chamber member: The Women's Resource Center.
Formed in 1974, it celebrates its 40th anniversary in October, the Women's Resource Center was formed by five Oceanside women who saw a need for an agency to provide "rape crisis" services in North San Diego County. During its earliest incarnation, it consisted as several "underground" homes where battered women in immediate danger could go to escape abuse. It was the first emergency shelter of its kind in the county.
Over the decades the program grew to include a transitional housing facility that offers services to domestic violence victims and their children, community outreach at local schools with an educational program about relationship issues, nonresidential counseling and case management and a resale shop.
"We opened the Women's Resource Center Thrift Store (at 3385 Mission Ave. in Oceanside) in 1994 with a two-fold purpose," said WRC CEO Marva Bledsoe. "It helped us to better provide for the emergency needs of our clients when it comes to clothing and other needs … and it also generates money to fund some of our other services."
The bulk of Davis' donated shoes will be set aside at the thrift store, where clients of the Women's Resource Center will be able to acquire them using vouchers they get as part of the program.
A QUESTION OF NEED
Statistics suggest that one out of every four women will experience domestic violence, said Marva Bledsoe, citing statistics from the state attorney general's office. She added that since the WRC was formed 40 years ago, the biggest change has been that now more people can speak about domestic violence openly and not sweeping it under the rug.
"Back when we opened, it was something that people didn't want to acknowledge, but now you can talk about domestic violence in polite conversation," she said. "The statistics mean that we all know people who are experiencing it, even if we don't know it's happening."
WRC's clients are mostly mothers and their children, and they come from a wide range of economic levels and from varied backgrounds and races.
“They're young and old; black, white and Hispanic; and they're all afraid," Bledsoe said. "That's the one thing they all have in common: they're afraid."
Last year, WRC provided services to 6,100 families, most of them from North County.
Bledsoe said that since most people wear out shoes, there is a big need for them at the thrift store.
"Many of our clients come with us with nothing but the clothes off their back," she said.
Glenda Pullen, the manager of the Women's Resource Center Thrift Shop, said she constantly sees how much the clients benefit from the clothing that they can receive from the vouchers. She tells the story of a woman who came in and picked out three suits that had been recently donated to the shelter to wear for her job interview.
"A month and a half later she came in bouncing through the doors," Pullen said. "She'd gotten a job, an apartment and a car, just lifted herself up and moved on."
Most of the clients are going through major life changes and are in the process of making big decisions in the immediate future. They sometimes have to leave their homes barefoot, without shoes or jackets.
"They come here sometimes from the shelter to get what they need," Pullen added. "These shoes and nice clothes lift their spirits, give them confidence and help them get through as they figure out what they are going to do with their life."
Bledsoe said the WRC is always looking for donations, whether it be donated items for the resale shop, extra office supplies, canned foods and gift cards.
"They can also have us come in to their business and have us talk to their employees about domestic violence," she said. "It's not just a family problem, it has a very negative impact on the bottom line and it does spread into the office. We can be a resource to help companies help their employees."
PLANNED GIVING
Davis, meanwhile, said she plans to make giving back an integral part of her business. She said she'd love to make donations to the community part of her way of doing business, and also wants to help military families.
"I think this is going to become something that we do at the end of every year," Davis said. "I would rather see my excess merchandise going to people in the community than going to a liquidator. I feel better knowing where these are going."
Davis noted that larger companies often reinvest a portion of their profits in the community during good years, and added that this is her way of doing that.
"I hope that some day I can be big enough to do that. Right now, I'm not big enough, but this is something that I can do."
Toni Padron said Davis epitomizes what the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is trying to teach its members.
"Giving is better than receiving in so many ways," Padron said. "We are constantly challenging our members to think about their businesses based on the larger picture. To think about the legacy that they as a business owner are having in their community. What kind of business do they want to be? How do they want to be remembered, and what impact do they make in their community."
Every so often, you hear about a company that integrates philanthropy into its mission. Much has been written, for example, about Santa Monica-based TOMS and its "One for One" philosophy, under which it donates a pair of shoes to a poor child with every sale it makes. That "buy one, give one" philosophy has been adopted by other successful companies, such as online eyeglass retailer Warby Parker.
You don't have to be big to incorporate giving into your business plan. All you have to do is think creatively, and focus on what is important to you, said Toni Padron, executive vice president and COO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, who has worked with dozens of small businesses through the Chamber's Pathways program, a peer advisory group.
"TOMS and the larger companies are not the only ones that can do those types of things," Padron said. "It's like we at the Chamber always tell our members: you, the small-business person can do the same thing and make just as great of an impact on the local community as larger companies make globally."
A LOCAL EXAMPLE
Like many retailers, Christine Davis of Coolest Shoes in California was ending 2013 with a surplus of unsold shoes in styles that were being discontinued by their manufacturers for the new year. After fall clearance sales, she still had about 60 pairs of shoes she needed to get off the books. A retail consultant suggested she sell them to a liquidator, but Davis decided she wanted to take another route.
"Since we are not going to be carrying these particular styles and colors in 2014, we felt it best to donate them at the end of the year, rather than liquidate them, so that they could go to good use," Davis said. "Finding a local venue to donate to was also important so that the benefits could be realized right here in our community."
Since she specializes in the sale of women's shoes, Davis said she also wanted to find a place that would benefit women. After bringing the issue up to her Pathways group she discovered the perfect place in another Chamber member: The Women's Resource Center.
Formed in 1974, it celebrates its 40th anniversary in October, the Women's Resource Center was formed by five Oceanside women who saw a need for an agency to provide "rape crisis" services in North San Diego County. During its earliest incarnation, it consisted as several "underground" homes where battered women in immediate danger could go to escape abuse. It was the first emergency shelter of its kind in the county.
Over the decades the program grew to include a transitional housing facility that offers services to domestic violence victims and their children, community outreach at local schools with an educational program about relationship issues, nonresidential counseling and case management and a resale shop.
"We opened the Women's Resource Center Thrift Store (at 3385 Mission Ave. in Oceanside) in 1994 with a two-fold purpose," said WRC CEO Marva Bledsoe. "It helped us to better provide for the emergency needs of our clients when it comes to clothing and other needs … and it also generates money to fund some of our other services."
The bulk of Davis' donated shoes will be set aside at the thrift store, where clients of the Women's Resource Center will be able to acquire them using vouchers they get as part of the program.
A QUESTION OF NEED
Statistics suggest that one out of every four women will experience domestic violence, said Marva Bledsoe, citing statistics from the state attorney general's office. She added that since the WRC was formed 40 years ago, the biggest change has been that now more people can speak about domestic violence openly and not sweeping it under the rug.
"Back when we opened, it was something that people didn't want to acknowledge, but now you can talk about domestic violence in polite conversation," she said. "The statistics mean that we all know people who are experiencing it, even if we don't know it's happening."
WRC's clients are mostly mothers and their children, and they come from a wide range of economic levels and from varied backgrounds and races.
“They're young and old; black, white and Hispanic; and they're all afraid," Bledsoe said. "That's the one thing they all have in common: they're afraid."
Last year, WRC provided services to 6,100 families, most of them from North County.
Bledsoe said that since most people wear out shoes, there is a big need for them at the thrift store.
"Many of our clients come with us with nothing but the clothes off their back," she said.
Glenda Pullen, the manager of the Women's Resource Center Thrift Shop, said she constantly sees how much the clients benefit from the clothing that they can receive from the vouchers. She tells the story of a woman who came in and picked out three suits that had been recently donated to the shelter to wear for her job interview.
"A month and a half later she came in bouncing through the doors," Pullen said. "She'd gotten a job, an apartment and a car, just lifted herself up and moved on."
Most of the clients are going through major life changes and are in the process of making big decisions in the immediate future. They sometimes have to leave their homes barefoot, without shoes or jackets.
"They come here sometimes from the shelter to get what they need," Pullen added. "These shoes and nice clothes lift their spirits, give them confidence and help them get through as they figure out what they are going to do with their life."
Bledsoe said the WRC is always looking for donations, whether it be donated items for the resale shop, extra office supplies, canned foods and gift cards.
"They can also have us come in to their business and have us talk to their employees about domestic violence," she said. "It's not just a family problem, it has a very negative impact on the bottom line and it does spread into the office. We can be a resource to help companies help their employees."
PLANNED GIVING
Davis, meanwhile, said she plans to make giving back an integral part of her business. She said she'd love to make donations to the community part of her way of doing business, and also wants to help military families.
"I think this is going to become something that we do at the end of every year," Davis said. "I would rather see my excess merchandise going to people in the community than going to a liquidator. I feel better knowing where these are going."
Davis noted that larger companies often reinvest a portion of their profits in the community during good years, and added that this is her way of doing that.
"I hope that some day I can be big enough to do that. Right now, I'm not big enough, but this is something that I can do."
Toni Padron said Davis epitomizes what the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is trying to teach its members.
"Giving is better than receiving in so many ways," Padron said. "We are constantly challenging our members to think about their businesses based on the larger picture. To think about the legacy that they as a business owner are having in their community. What kind of business do they want to be? How do they want to be remembered, and what impact do they make in their community."