DollarDays is an innovative online wholesale distributor on a mission to level the playing field for growing businesses. By taking manufacturing and distribution to the digital marketplace, the site provides small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and nonprofits with the economic security necessary to take on the challenges of 21st-century entrepreneurship.
SMEs have always been the backbone of North American industry, but, in recent years, vast changes in the domestic economy have threatened the livelihood of small businesses everywhere. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the last year alone, over 470,000 U.S. businesses died, with only 400,000 new ones created. Despite these daunting statistics, the reality is that many small firms are still fighting the good fight, and, today, DollarDays may just be the solution.
The firm’s hybrid business structure blends the accessibility of the Web with the professional tradition of personalized service, an approach that has propelled the site to the forefront of the sector. With 3.5 million registered users and an average of over 1,500 new customers a day, DollarDays has emerged as an unlikely competitor in the high-stakes world of manufacturing and distribution. With statistics showing over 50% of customers ordering from DollarDays.com four times or more, the website is an example of not only how to gain, but to keep customers coming back for more.
The website’s ongoing growth has garnered widespread attention internationally, but, according to Marc Joseph, the CEO and president of DollarDays, this success is more than accomplishment; it’s a pursuit of passion. “I am very passionate about making sure we support growing businesses. It’s our mission to support them in any way we can to keep them alive and growing.”
DollarDays was created in 2001 as an answer to an evolving sector and a changing global economy. Soon after the global recession hit, the significance of DollarDays.com grew even more apparent.
“We always put ourselves in our small-business customer’s shoes, and we ask ourselves, ‘What do they need to compete?'”
As many small businesses felt the pangs of economic disparity, financially driven changes in the manufacturing and distribution sectors made commercial success harder than ever.
Traditionally, manufacturers and distributors relied heavily on salespeople. Following the downturn, many of these companies moved to diminish their operating overheads by limiting the number of sales representatives on staff. This seemingly small change had a significant impact on the ability of SMEs and nonprofits to source quality products. This change, paired with the price of shipping and increasing credit restrictions, pushed the cost of operations so high that there was little chance of any small firm surviving in the monopolizing marketplace.
This is where DollarDays comes in.
Leveraging the Internet as a new channel of distribution for wholesale and closeout products, the company’s Web-based platform became a hotspot for SMEs and nonprofits seeking an alternative route to sourcing stock. “We felt the Internet would give us the ability to level the playing field for these small businesses, giving them a chance to compete, survive and thrive against the chains in the area.”
It brings to the table several major benefits [that] are based on the company’s unique hybrid approach. From a product standpoint, there are few companies with the range and affordability of DollarDays, which carries over 300,000 products at any one time.”We are [a] one-stop shop in terms of products [businesses] can promote, products they need and products which show their customers that they are relevant with the trends.”
The site is easy enough for clients to navigate quickly and independently, as high-resolution images and descriptions provide customers a clear view of products. As the site is a favorite for many nonprofit organizations, the range of back-to-school essentials and seasonal goods [is one] of the most diverse and affordable on the market.
One of the primary benefits of using this Web-based supplier is its uniquely accessible format. Any business owner knows running your company is an around-the-clock responsibility. For thousands, the company’s 24-hour accessibility is a priceless, timesaving asset that accommodates those who simply cannot take time out of the workday to browse and restock. Often, one of the site’s busiest times is the early hours of the morning, when thousands place orders from the comfort of their homes.
“I am very passionate about making sure we support growing businesses.”
Marc Joseph, CEO and President, DollarDays
When it comes to serving growing businesses, the price point is inarguably the most important factor. The cost-saving benefits of DollarDays are twofold, as both the starting price and order minimums are substantially lower than the typical manufacturer or distributor.
It gives smaller businesses a chance at buying power that has typically been reserved for powerful multinational firms. “Closeouts help businesses buy more with the dollars they have.” The company provides unparalleled closeout deals throughout the year, which spell[s] serious value for companies looking to increase inventory or offer deals.
Most manufacturers and distributors require companies to order products by the truckload, which can be a very expensive or risky move for those with smaller budgets. These requirements make it difficult for businesses with less working capital to expand their range and test out new products. DollarDays has a minimum order of one case, which enables customers to grow their businesses sustainably with peace of mind. “We want our customers to try stuff so they can see what works for them,” said Joseph.
Sometimes, in Web-based businesses, customer service is the last thing that comes to mind, but DollarDays has worked relentlessly to change that, and customer service has remained a primary component of [the] firm’s success. The tradition of door-to-door sales may be dying, but the company has found a way to bridge the benefits of the Web with the appeal of personalized service. “The thing that really separates us from other businesses on the Internet is our customer service in sales.”
The site has an extensive team of inside sales representatives, many of whom come from a background of small-business ownership themselves. “We are able to maintain the backbone of our business, because our inside salespeople are really working with our customers to help them grow their business.”
Buying products is a very personal business, and the company takes this commitment very seriously. Although thousands of customers access and place orders on the website with no assistance, a substantial number of clients choose to work closely with the in-house sales team. The sales team moves through the site with customers, providing insights and tips on everything from regional popularity to the price point of similar goods.
“The company’s Web-based platform became a hotspot for SMEs and nonprofits seeking an alternative route to sourcing stock.”
Similar to SMEs, the nonprofit sector has faced the very real threat of severe losses. In an industry predicated on helping others, the importance of a dollar extends beyond the cost of goods. Nonprofit organizations are an increasing portion of DollarDays’ business, and assisting them to grow is a primary mission for the firm.
As a substantial part of the company’s client base comes from the nonprofit sector, the in-house sales experts are experienced in providing the insights and sensitivity necessary to help novice buyers make economically strategic decisions. “It is as important with our nonprofits as it is with our businesses that they are working with people who understand their budgets and business. Nonprofits aren’t professional buyers—their mission is to help people—so, as experts in how nonprofits work, we can offer exactly what they need.”
The site’s Wishlist Program (similar to a bridal registry) is a free initiative that allows nonprofits to register a list of desperately needed items online. Through this registry, patrons can purchase and ship tangible donations with the click of a mouse.
What really sets it apart is a corporate culture that starts with dollars but is driven by something much bigger. The firm’s relentless commitment to U.S. development is practical, but, at the core, it is ethical, and, in the end, it is this mission that has made DollarDays a company to watch.
While writing a good press release is more of an art than a science, there are some tried-and-true strategies that work. To help your next press release land media coverage, we’ve compiled 40 examples of actual press releases that were able to successfully garner publicity. We’ll take a look at each and provide you with actionable advice to create your own successful news release. […]
1. Fit Small Business Promotes Priyanka Prakash To Managing Editor
First, we are going to look at a press that we at Fit Small Business recently sent out so that we can point out the attributes of a good press release. You should look out for these points when viewing the other examples below.
Headline and secondary headline. The headline is crucial to your press release, as it is the first thing that will catch the reader’s attention. Keep it short, interesting and descriptive. Having a secondary headline is a great way to give more information without taking away from the main headline.
Get straight to the point. Press releases are sent to people that are busy, so make sure the essence of your release is in the first two paragraphs.
Easily quotable. Journalists will want to pull parts of your press release to use in their own stories. Make sure you have sentences that will make an impact when used separately.
Include a photo. Sending a picture along with the press release is crucial, as it personalizes the release and makes it stick out in people’s minds. The picture we included was able to immediately put a face to the name and hopefully made people want to learn more about the woman in the photo.
You also want to make sure the press release is newsworthy. This doesn’t mean that you can only send out a press release for information that would make the front page of The New York Times. It does mean that you have to find an angle that you think journalists will find interesting and want to write about.
For our press release, we decided to take a women-in-leadership angle. This is because we noticed a lot of buzz recently about women in leadership roles, which, in the past, was dominated by men. This approach worked well for us. We had our press release written about in over 30% of the outlets we sent the release to, including coverage in Talking New Media and Street Fight Mag.
2. TV Ears Unveils the First Senior-friendly HDTV at Consumer Electronics Show
I drafted this press release on the first-ever senior-friendly TV put out by TV EARS. The timing was ideal since it was leading up to the Consumer Electronic Show (CES). This release was published on numerous sites and also resulted in feature stories and live interviews at CES with national media outlets. There are a few tips from this particular release.
To increase your chances of getting coverage on your press release, it needs to have an attention-grabbing headline. It’s also imperative to send along images of the product to accompany the story. Don’t use the “spray-and-pray” method; instead, tailor your press release to each person separately. That includes writing their name at the beginning and why the news is relevant to their audience. If possible, distribute your press release around a relevant event. Luckily, the product launch on the TV was right around CES, so that helped with exposure.
Faded Banner Publications has made its mark in Civil War and regional history titles, so a book on the paranormal meant taking a whole new approach to our publicity.
We were looking to target the paranormal field but not limit ourselves to that field. We were looking to establish I Met a Ghost as a mainstream book, a serious look at the unexplained phenomenon so prevalent at many historic sites. As such, we emphasized the book as a journalistic endeavor. The press release worked and worked well—we attracted the attention of a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as numerous radio interviews across the nation and in Europe. The release landed me an hour-long PBS interview, and, of course, we achieved the main goal of the press release: selling books.
4. Shopify Plus/VL OMNI Official Partnership Announcement Press Release
What made this press release successful was the intersection of the exclusivity of the announcement (there were only a select few companies who were made official Shopify Plus partners in the first round, and we were one of them), the fact that it was newsworthy, and having a great partner tied into the announcement itself. The latter point was especially critical to the PR, and the notoriety of the Shopify brand really gave the release “legs” in terms of how far it was distributed and the impact it made.
5. The Powerline Group Announces New College Scholarship Program for Long Island, National Students
Our most recent press release, which actually went out today, has been picked up by Business Insider and Yahoo. Successful press releases include information that is well-written, worth sharing and provides value to those reading. Craft a catchy title to garner the attention of notable sources and publications. On the other hand, get to the point with your actual press announcement while remaining professional and communicating an effective message. Be sure there are no grammatical issues or spelling errors. Last but not least, always include relevant contact information so you can be reached by potential consumers, partners, representatives and anybody else interested in the contents of your press release.
6. Turkey Day Juice Kicks off Shoreline Lake’s New Wine-tasting Series
In addition to being picked up by journalists, this press effort has also resulted in additional write-ups and mentions since then and continues to bring Shoreline Lake to the attention of oenophiles and others wanting unique wine-based—and related—experiences in Silicon Valley. This was not a standalone effort, however, but, rather, a tactic used to achieve some very specific market communications goals (which were all met).
Press releases should always be written according to the comprehensive and cohesive market communication strategy already in place, which is based on an in-depth analysis (demographics, psychographics, and socio-graphics) of your target audience, and framed to help reporters convince their editors of your topic’s newsworthiness.
Be judicious, and only write press releases when you have real newsAl impression of desperation (and amateurishness).
7. The Biggest Loser Trainer, Pauline Nordin, Launches a New Brand, App to De-fatten America
Here’s a press release that was created for fitness expert Pauline Nordin. It starts with the most important information—a new app release—and follows with a reason why you should care (Nordin outsold famed fitness trainer Jillian Michaels). It was effective because it gave all of the facts and was easily quotable for journalists interested in the story.
8. TicketCity Celebrates 25th Birthday by Giving Everything Away
I originally wrote a more traditional (read: boring) release around our company’s 25th anniversary, but, after getting bored just proofreading it, I decided to scrap the whole thing and make it something people would actually enjoy reading. The press release not only conveyed our message, but by taking a tongue-in-cheek approach, it also conveyed our brand’s fun-loving personality.
—Ashley Kubiszyn, Marketing and Communications Director, TicketCity
9. Cupcakes & Rubber Ducks—What’s Not to Like!
When you have done something as unique and fun as we did, such as returning the whole rubber duck industry back to America where it began, it’s a cool emotional story that strikes an emotional chord in people regarding U.S. manufacturing and, thus, gets a lot of attention in the media. In fact, the HGTV/DYI/Discover network filmed our N.Y. factory for a show that went out to their 60 million viewer reach in the spring on making ducks in America!
10. Robert Graham of “Bachelor Nation” Enjoys Brighter, Straighter Teeth with Porcelain Veneers from Desert Smiles
Our team had the opportunity to be creative with this press release by tapping into the lingo common among the fandom of the “Bachelor” TV shows and connecting it to the world of dentistry.
The press release is also effective because of its multifaceted storytelling. It highlights a public figure’s connection to the local community (the same area served by our client). It balances writing about the dentist and his practice with the famous person who became his patient, and it uses multimedia—Graham spoke about his experience with our client on camera and appeared in a number of pictures in the client’s office, which enriched our press release with unique content that is worth more than a thousand words.
In my experience, if it reads like the lead to a story, then it makes it easier for a news outlet to publish as is or for a reporter to pick up the ball and run with it from there. I am not saying every news outlet will use your exact lead or even publish the release in full, but it does give them a good idea of how they might approach your story. I have had a lot of success having my press releases picked up and run as is.
One of the strongest things of this particular release is our headline. With so many sexist problems that are flying through the media, we decided to highlight while she is just one woman, she truly is changing the business game for everyone. We also tried to highlight her past and how that plays into her career now, as well as showcase how others perceive her. There is nothing better that speaks to someone’s leadership and integrity than actually hearing from followers.
When writing a press release, it’s important to remain consistent in your language but naturally make your writing engaging. There are thousands of releases every day, and, as PR professionals, we are to make our own news engaging and exciting. You want people to read your work and 1.) think it’s cool and 2.) be impacted in some way.
13. Rentec Direct Releases Ultimate Guide on How to Rent an Apartment
A good press release immediately grabs the reader’s attention by explaining why it’s relevant. For a product release, like the free e-book mentioned in this example, readers want to know who the intended audience is and how the product will benefit them.
Since press releases are also designed for the media to pick up and share with their audience, a reporter or editor wants to know how many people will be interested in this product or service. This particular release is targeted at renters, and since there are over 40 million renter-occupied households in the United States, we knew that the media would be excited to share a free educational guide with such a large audience.
14. Day Translations Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
We recently launched a press release for our 10-year anniversary. It was picked up by nearly 300 news publications in a few days. It is a great press release, because it highlights our anniversary. Any big landmark in a competitive industry is worth celebrating. It also has quotable content about our company stats and gives the audience value since we are offering a 10% discount on all translation services.
This press release is also very concise; it states the facts right away, then follows up with value for the audience. We also add a quote from our CEO, which is valuable, and quotes Day Translations’ first employee, who is still with the company today.
15. Search Engine Marketing for Small Business Works
This press release about search engine marketing for small business was quite successful, because it was picked up by 182 online publications with a potential audience of 195 million readers, including International Business Times and The San Jose Mercury News.
16. ‘Tis the Season for Shopping Local: Prime Now and Amazon Handmade Team up to Add Handcrafted Items from Local Artisans for Ultra-fast Delivery
In time for the holidays, this press release from Amazon announced that they have made their fastest delivery service available to select small businesses using Amazon to sell their products. The article said that “a specially curated list of products from Amazon Handmade artisans are available through Prime Now this holiday season.” The press release is expected to increase Amazon seller and Amazon Prime subscriptions, as well as sales for small businesses that sell on Amazon.
17. The Special-needs Community Has Made News with Survey Highlighting Disabled Reporter
I specialize in writing press releases aimed at small businesses and have been doing this for many years. One of the ways that my press releases are successful is that almost all of my press releases make it to Google News and/or Bing News, thus giving them a much wider exposure. This particular press release is an example of how to tie in your piece with a headline-making story. It also received a very high pick-up from web services.
18. The Southern Bank Celebrates 80 Years—Then & Now
This press release celebrated a big milestone by acknowledging both past success and planned future expansion—then and now. A community bank exists because of personal relationships and hometown service, so it was important to recognize this strong legacy and presence in our community after 80 years. At the same time, finance and banking have changed drastically over the years, and we wanted to show our customers that we are poised for the future. This press release achieved our goal of celebrating past and future.
The following is a great press release example. It has a sales aspect to it (something you typically want), it’s on a topic that’s worthy of being written about, it reads like an actual article (another key attribute), and it’s got some good quotes in it, as well.
An effective press release takes time and effort in order to be put together correctly. If you are just sending them out with no strategy or purpose involved, most of the time they simply fall on deaf ears.
20. iPartnerMedia Donates Website to Vengeance Woodworks in Recognition of Military Appreciation Month
In [our press release], you will see that the first sentence or two tells the whole story (what we call “the five ‘W’s”). There are also multimedia components to the news release, such as logos for the companies, social media links and images of the products the company sells.
—Randy Mitchelson, Vice President Sales & Marketing, iPartnerMedia
21. The Frame by Samsung Featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things List 2017 as a Must-have Item This Holiday Season
This press release from Samsung features their new Smart TV designed to unite entertainment with elegant art display. When a product lands on Oprah’s wish list, the “Oprah effect” often occurs. By virtue of the TV mogul’s popularity, the product gets instant brand recognition and an increase in sales. [This makes it] definitely worth a press release, and it’s something that the company can continue to talk about for a long time.
22. MoonGlow PR Offers Signed Editions of Beatles Books
The press release was an announcement that my clients’ books were available at the Fest for Beatles Fans event in Chicago and they can be purchased already signed by the authors. Not only did this create a boom for my author’s books, it generated traffic to the Fest website which has won me brownie points with the owners. This release is also timeless and can be linked to on social media again and again.
23. Thrill of the Hunt to Host Dog Scavenger Hunts Nationally
The subject alone caught people’s attention and gave Thrill of the Hunt exposure to increase ticket sales, further promoting our events without additional effort. It was used as a vehicle for interested parties to reach out to Thrill of the Hunt asking for dog scavenger hunts in specific dog-friendly areas or for fundraising opportunities for communities and charities.
This press release gave us exposure in several dog magazines, including San Diego Dog and NOVADog (Virginia), online media such as Edge Media Network, a local radio station, and with local charities who promoted the event in their area.
The press release also promoted our event to potential sponsors, local businesses and national brands. After the launch of the press release, I had potential sponsors interested in one or several of our dog scavenger hunts and sponsorship opportunities.
Giving back is what separates one company from another, [according to] a recent poll. Our customer base of B2B companies and nonprofit organizations crosses all generations, so we thought it was important to remind our customers that DollarDays’ social mission to help communities is a core component of our identity—[a]nd what better way to do that but to double the donations during the month of March.
25. The Bethel Inn Resort Celebrates 100 Years of Hospitality
Here’s a link to my favorite press release that I wrote for the Bethel Inn Resort’s 100th anniversary a couple years ago. Celebrating an anniversary is always a newsworthy event, especially if it hits the century mark. I particularly like this release because it brings into context other major events of 1913. Carrying on the major events theme of 1913, the resort posted a “This Day in History” [for] 1913 at the front desk. I discovered that the first crossword puzzle was published and that Robert Mondavi was born (parking a wine special in the tavern), among other exciting happenings, including the institution of the dreaded federal income tax.
26. Survey: Majority of Employees Would Choose Certain Perks over Standard Salary Increase
We conduct research studies throughout the year on various topics that we feel are relevant and of interest to our target audience. We sent out a press release a couple of months ago featuring our data-monitoring survey that received a lot of positive feedback. It was picked up by various publications, including TLNT and Recruiter.com.
Our study found that 56% of office workers deemed perks were at least moderately important when evaluating a job, and we were surprised to discover that a majority of employees would prefer certain work perks over a raise, including flexible hours and remote work opportunities.
27. My Single City: All-new Mobile App for Singles
The idea behind this press release was to educate people about a new dating app (small business) as well as empathize with any single person who reads it. We placed a small insert about why we developed the app and let readers know that we, too, are single and feel what they’re going through.
I believe the press release was successful because we let readers know that we, too, are like them, and that was the reason behind developing the app.
—Shari Linton, My Single City
28. Sleep with a Ghost—Guaranteed
The results speak for themselves—near-100% occupancy in the hotel in October. It was picked up in Historic Hotels of America’s “Haunted Historic Hotels” release and also sent out nationwide to radio, TV and newspapers. We have had very good luck over the past 10 years of having our annual ghostly story picked up and run all over the world. I have done radio interviews with stations from England, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and from all across the 50 states.
Most people think that you can only submit a press release when your business releases a new product or wins an award. This creative press release plays on people’s fascination with the supernatural in order to gain traction in the media. It also has an attention-grabbing title and was sent out at the end of September in order to be perfectly timed with the upcoming Halloween holiday.
29. Terranova® Celebrates Mother Earth with the Arbor Day Foundation
The idea behind this press release and why it’s effective is it was written to promote our commitment to creating products that use natural ingredients while showing our support for reputable nonprofit organizations—like the Arbor Day Foundation—that give back to the community and help our planet. This press release reinforces our commitment to being green, shows philanthropic support, and creates goodwill with our new and existing customers.
30. “Early Bird Café” a Vividly Written Love Story
This was sent out by my publisher to market my novel to the public and to bookstores worldwide. [Was it] effective? Yes—this helped my book to be picked up by bookstores and websites from here to Russia, China, Australia, etc. By including a description of the book in the press release, we were able to get people interested in the novel. I’m even in my local Barnes & Noble. It was a great way for me to debut my writing and get out there in the publishing world!
—Carrie Aulenbacher, Author
31. Former Casino Employee Takes Gamble on Provocative Tell-all Insider Book on Industry
This press release was successful because, obviously, the content was of interest to the media, and it had a catchy, attention-grabbing headline. I feel that we used the narrative to not only gain interest in the story but to gain sympathy and understanding of the author’s plight, which contributed to the press release success (more than 5,000 hits). One must tell a compelling story in a limited amount of space in a press release. It’s more than the who, what, when and where model—you want the reader to be drawn in immediately.
At Media Minefield, we believe there are more effective ways to get the message to the media rather than press releases. That’s why we created a press release announcing the death of the press release (headline: “Death of the Press Release”). We posted it on our website and on social media on April Fool’s Day as a #KiddingNotKidding.
It’s gotten attention on social media from members of the media who support what we believe about press releases, and it’s gotten our point across in a fun way.
—Allison Ortiz, Media & Messaging Specialist, Media Minefield
33. Emirates, FlyDubai Partnership Announces First Shared Routes
Emirates Airlines have always been known for their service quality, while FlyDubai is popular for low-cost fares. By announcing their collaboration, both service providers benefit from gaining access to customers who would normally stay with one of the airlines. This opens up opportunities for more travel options and more flexible price points for airfares. The press release effectively relays these points to consumers and is expected to increase sales for both airlines as they gain access to a wider consumer base.
34. E-Complish Announces PCI 3.0 Compliance, Making It One of the First Level-one Payment-processing Companies in the World to Achieve This Level of Certification
We wanted to craft a release that went beyond simply patting our company on the back and, rather, explained the relevance that achieving this milestone meant for the industry. Within the release, we pulled together an explanation of why PCI 3.0 certification is important for credit-card processing companies with day-to-day consumers in mind.
Rather than focusing singularly on the client, we felt it was important to focus on implications this certification has on the end user and really, the industry as a whole.
35. FreightCenter Plans to Create 40 New Jobs in the Tampa Bay Area in 2016
There were two purposes to the release—to increase our number of applicants and to create a little buzz about our expected growth. My strategy was to present FreightCenter as an exciting place to work [with] many opportunities to grow. Right away, I supported this claim in my lead when I said FreightCenter will announce “a major overhaul of its company positioning and brand.” This statement was purposely used to create curiosity so the reader would continue reading. […] To further support my claim and satisfy the reader’s curiosity, I included a quote from our COO, Doug Walls, in the third paragraph. The quote should answer any questions the reader might have.
My best press release was the use of a survey we did for eDiets.com. We asked our website visitors and e-newsletter subscribers to complete a poll about the best celebrity bodies and “butts.” In the poll results, Jennifer Aniston was rated higher than Jennifer Lopez, who, at that time, had the most talked-about derriere.
We sent out the press release, and the media loved [it]. Well over a hundred media outlets ran the story, and it was even used as a question on the game show “Hollywood Squares.”
This was so successful because we added survey questions to intentionally generate PR-good headlines through the on-site polling.
37. FocalPointK12 Offers Free Practice Tests for Schools
“Free” is one of the most persuasive words in the English language and makes this press release title eye-catching. Also included in the press release is a link to the free practice test. This gives the reader immediate information without requiring back and forth emailing or other inconvenient actions.
38. Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Justice League” Teams up with AT&T to Take over Times Square
Prior to the movie release of “Justice League,” Warner Bros. Pictures announced in a press release an event, in collaboration with AT&T, to advertise the upcoming superhero movie. AT&T has three stores in Times Square that are perfect for a massive advertising campaign, and by letting Warner Bros. deck their stores with the movie’s iconic figures, AT&T benefits from the increased attention and foot traffic. This press release generated excitement for the movie premiere while [allowing] AT&T […] to increase its marketing opportunities.
39. Four Gooey-good Reasons to Love Yumbutter™
We wrote a press release called “Yumbutter by the Numbers.” There are multiple reasons as to why this press release was successful. We successfully demonstrated the brand’s fun and playful energy while engaging consumers with informative but easy-to-read content.
40. Adigica Health, Inc., Launches BioClarity™ for Acne Treatment in Teenagers, Young Adults
Our parent company, Adigica Health, is an e-commerce company focused on the development of healthcare products. We recently developed a new proprietary skin care regimen specifically formulated for the treatment of acne in teenagers and young adults, and we sent out a press release announcing the new product.
We included statistics in the press release of how many teenagers and young adults reported clearer acne after using our product, which, I believe, is what helped us gain over 8,000 followers on our Instagram and 3,000 on our Facebook account.
Kim Flynn, business-training expert and motivational speaker for women entrepreneurs, and DollarDays’ CEO, Marc Joseph, team up in this webinar to deliver powerful business information for today’s women entrepreneurs!
Kim Flynn offers three key points to accelerate your business:
The top three mistakes women make in business
Building your business blueprint
Determining your current stress number
Marc Joseph delivers the answers to:
Does it make sense to open an online business in today’s world
What to sell online
Marketing your website
Mistakes to avoid
[vimeo https://vimeo.com/123988249]Sit back and enjoy the webinar, and learn from two of the most respected people in their businesses! This webinar was recorded live on April 1, 2015, at DollarDays’ headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz., where we were honored to have Kim Flynn fly in from Utah.
Nearly a decade ago, social media was a small fraction of retailers’ marketing mix. Most of the time, businesses were focused on building up their social profiles and pushing out messages and coupons to their followers.
But now, the rules of social engagement have changed: best-in-class retailers understand that ongoing communication, information sharing and engagement drive successful social initiatives.
For the first time, Retail TouchPoints is honoring brands and retailers that are using social media in innovative ways to improve their engagement, service and selling strategies.
Winners of the 2015 Social Media Maven Awards include both large national retailers and smaller brands and startups. Award recipients also vary in their product and service offerings, from accessories to apparel, cosmetics and office supplies.
The Internet has made it possible for individuals to connect with libraries halfway around the world or tour historic landmarks through a video feed, effectively democratizing information and resources that used to be restricted to a select few. DollarDays‘ founder and CEO, Marc Joseph, says his company does the same for small retailers, making it possible for them to compete with the large chains and connect with major manufacturers and brands in a way that simply wasn’t possible for them 15 years earlier.
Joseph says he founded DollarDays in 2001 because he and his partners understood the potential for the Internet to become the next significant channel of distribution. This would be especially true for small businesses, which didn’t have the same resources as large-scale retailers. In the past, manufacturers would send salespeople out to visit retailers of all sizes, but in today’s marketplace, most major manufacturers have deemed it unnecessary, leaving the smaller retailers out in the cold with big manufacturers and distributors. “If you’re a small business in today’s world, where are you going to find products?” Joseph says.
DollarDays is a leading wholesaler of a wide assortment of products serving a customer base that includes smaller distributors, as well as mom-and-pop retailers competing against big-box stores like Walmart and Target. Joseph says the company supplies its customers not only with the everyday goods they need, but [with] a healthy selection of seasonal and closeout products, as well. DollarDays has more than 300,000 SKUs available for its customers, Joseph says, making it indispensable for those smaller retailers. “Basically, we are a one-stop shop for these small businesses,” he says.
Face to Face
Joseph says customers turn to DollarDays for its incredibly broad assortment and competitive prices, but there’s another piece of the puzzle that is just as important for its customers. DollarDays’ internal sales team is just as much a selling point for customers as the company’s selection and prices, Joseph says.
Although the convenience of being able to order product from the Internet 24 hours a day and seven days a week certainly is appealing for smaller retailers and distributors, Joseph says nothing can take the place of having dedicated salespeople available to answer questions and help customers with their orders. “What they do is actually work with our customers,” Joseph says, adding that these salespeople are able to connect with customers at any time and from anywhere through the Internet. “They’re taking the place of the guy who used to sit on the other side of the desk with these guys.”
Cutting Edge
The company’s reliance on technology means DollarDays has to stay on the cutting edge of the industry. Joseph says this is especially true because of the increasing number of wholesalers that utilize the Internet as a means of reaching out to customers and fulfilling their orders. As the wholesaling industry starts to become fully aware of the impact the Internet can have on its business, DollarDays is working hard to keep up with the latest trends and adapt to the major changes taking place in the industry.
One of the most significant of these changes and trends is the shift to mobile communication. As smartphones and tablet computers become more and more commonplace, customers are freed from being tethered to their desks, but websites need to be optimized for touchscreens and mobile data connections as a result. “What that means is all of a sudden, not just everyone is sitting in front of their computers anymore—it’s all mobile,” Joseph says. “The way for people to shop on the Internet has evolved, and so we’ve evolved along with it.”
That evolution includes the use of social media as an outlet for reaching out to customers. Joseph says the use of platforms such as Facebook and Twitter makes it easier for DollarDays to connect with its customers in a way that conforms to their individual schedules. “That has changed the way that customers perceive how a business interacts with its customers,” Joseph says, adding that DollarDays has accounts [across a number of social media channels] as [a] means of promoting the company and communicating with customers.
Connecting with customers has been a major focus for DollarDays over the last few years, and Joseph explains it is something the company pays close attention to every day. With a deep understanding of the marketplace and its wide selection, Joseph says, DollarDays is poised to continue holding onto its leadership position for years to come.
The Crunch: Buying wholesale and bulk goods used to be difficult for small retailers, especially those without the big budgets larger businesses wield. DollarDays, a premier online wholesale distributor and closeout company, extends “the same kind of buying power” to small businesses and nonprofits by buying in bulk themselves and selling products affordably from their inventory. Clients can buy single cases of a product or a single item from over 200,000 goods in stock. Whether you’re buying hats for school fundraisers or purchasing holiday décor to sell in your store, DollarDays offers a wide selection of affordable products that meet the needs (and budgets) of small retailers.
We arrived that day at Casa Shalom, an orphanage nestled on a mountain in Guatemala, with duffel bags of arts-and-crafts supplies for the kids. Hundreds of toddlers, older kids and teens would be coming to the small, blue room throughout the week to make beaded necklaces and other crafts. Buying enough supplies to last the week wasn’t a small task; we had to start saving up and purchasing items as early as the day we got back from last year’s trip. It would’ve been easier to buy supplies from a wholesale distributor, but we couldn’t afford to buy tons of bulk cases. Had we known about DollarDays, the buying process would’ve flowed smoother and, perhaps, saved money that could’ve been spent elsewhere.
There are thousands of small retailers and nonprofits like us that need access to wholesale and bulk goods every day. That’s why DollarDays is so important to the retail community. Known as the “secret weapon” of small businesses, the online wholesale distributor offers over 200,000 high-quality goods in its inventory. Retailers can purchase anything from backpacks to leggings to toothpaste and have their order shipped to their businesses right on time. DollarDays is celebrated for giving small businesses the same kind of buying power that once was only available to big-box retailers.
“Our mission is to provide low-cost products to companies and support nonprofits to stretch their dollar,” said Marc Joseph, the CEO and founder of DollarDays.
A Man’s Vision on How the Internet Would Change Distribution
In 2001, Marc and his business partners saw the opportunity to launch a wholesale-distributing website and pave the way for delivering goods to small- and medium-sized retailers across the country. Big-box retailers could afford to purchase wholesale items in bulk quantities, but, without access to the resources of their larger competitors, it was difficult for small businesses to compete. Marc wanted to level the playing field. His vision allows small businesses to buy bulk goods in smaller batches and give larger retailers a run for their money (literally).
“We thought the Internet would level the playing field so that small businesses could compete with the chains in their marketplaces,” Marc said. “Initially, we started off to serve small-business owners.”
Fifteen years later, DollarDays has changed the landscape of the wholesale distribution space for the better. Small retailers can buy anything from clothing to household items to beauty products whenever they need them, which makes ordering flexible and easy.
Simplifying the wholesale-buying process has revolutionized the way small retailers and nonprofits do business. With access to similar resources, small businesses can compete with larger brands and fight for their fair share of customers.
Small Retailers Can Pick from over 200,000 Goods at Any Time
Let’s say you own a kid’s hair salon called Pearls and Plunder Hair Cuttery Salon. As one of your unique selling points, you reward kids with a prize from the toy chest after they’ve received a haircut. Because you have a small (yet growing) client base, you wonder where you can buy small cases of toys and games without spending an excess amount of money. That’s where DollarDays steps in.
You can head to DollarDays.com, click on the “Toys & Games” tab, then start the peruse the different types of toys available. Your options include buying as few as one toy or purchasing a small case to save money. Once you select all the products you need, you can swiftly complete your order at checkout. Even if you remembered at midnight that you’re running low on supplies, you can place an order right then and there.
DollarDays stands out from wholesale competitors for one simple reason: the company’s flexible ordering system. Retailers have the option to try out a few products without “committing” to buying in bulk. In fact, DollarDays encourages customers to test out different products to see what works for them. If it ends up working out, the customer can then place a bulk order at DollarDays.com, eliminating waste for the retailer.
“We have become a one-stop for any business or association,” Marc said.
Let DollarDays Be “a Secret Weapon” for Your Business or Nonprofit
Even though we’re a small nonprofit with a smaller budget, using DollarDays is a smart way for us to buy all the future arts-and-crafts supplies we need to take to the orphanage. Whenever your small business or nonprofit needs to buy any type of bulk items, shopping at a wholesale distributor [like DollarDays] will help you save money. […]
DollarDays will continue to offer more quantities of low-cost goods to help small businesses compete with larger players in the space. The wholesale company is eager to help your business grow, one bulk case at a time.
MyECheck, Inc. (OTC PK: MYEC), the leader in electronic check solutions for Internet and mobile payments, announced that it will provide its patented electronic check services to DollarDays, a web-based virtual warehouse that enables small-business owners and charities to find great deals on orders for more than 300,000 products, from toys and household décor to apparel, electronics and seasonal merchandise.
MyECheck offers a variety of electronic check services for almost any application, including personal, business and government payments. With this agreement, DollarDays customers will have access to the fastest, safest and lowest-cost payment method in America, providing secure, low-cost, same-day payments from any checking account.
“DollarDays is all about providing superior value and ease-of-use to its customers, which range from individual consumers to small businesses to nonprofit organizations, and that aligns perfectly with our mission to improve the security, speed and cost associated with mobile and online payments,” said Ed Starrs, CEO of MyECheck. “We are excited to be working with DollarDays and look forward to serving the needs of its customers.”
About DollarDays Founded in 2001, DollarDays is the leading supplier of wholesale goods for nonprofits, businesses and betterment organizations. By sourcing affordable products, backed by exceptional service and meaningful community engagement, we strive to inspire and empower our customers to accomplish their missions to improve the lives of people around the world. Recognized as the City of Phoenix Mayor’s Office “2018 Product Exporter of the Year” and Internet Retailer Magazine’s “B2B E-commerce Marketer of the Year” for 2016 and 2017, DollarDays is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.dollardays.com.
When the Alibaba Group Holding prices its initial public offering Thursday, small businesses, in particular, will be watching. Founder Jack Ma—the former English-teacher-turned-dot-com-billionaire—has touted his e-commerce platform as a way for smaller merchants to expand their international footprint, including access to consumers in China.
In its September 5th filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alibaba said it “fights for the little guy,” but will Alibaba really champion “Main Street” in a crowded online marketplace?
Alibaba launched its IPO roadshow in New York last week with enough investor demand to cover the entire deal within two days, according to Reuters. Alibaba’s stock sale is expected to rival Facebook’s $16 billion offering two years ago.
“Our proposition is simple: we want to help small businesses grow by solving their problems through Internet technology,” Ma wrote in the filing.
So CNBC canvassed a few small merchants who already have waded into Alibaba.com. Their experiences, for the most part, were positive, according to the select group of small-business owners.
And in a twist on domestic manufacturing, products that are “Made in USA”—or even China-made goods sold through an American-based company—can get traction and differentiate themselves among a crowded slate of online sellers.
“The majority of our products are made in China, but simply being in the U.S. has helped us stand out,” said Marc Joseph, founder of DollarDays, [an] Arizona-based business-to-business site that sells more than 300,000 products—from apparel to cleaning supplies—in the United States and 44 other countries.
In the end, though, small businesses may have to play nice with the giant e-commerce portal, whether they like it or not. Alibaba is China’s largest Internet retailer, with online merchandise volumes that lag only Walmart worldwide. Alibaba does not break down how many businesses it partners with in the United States, but the company does report giving Chinese consumers access to millions of global merchants through a constellation of portals that essentially serve as digital, global storefronts or marketplaces.
In the SEC filing, Ma wrote that “international brands that set up storefronts on Tmall Global benefit from the exposure to the hundreds of millions of visitors on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall, enabling them to establish their brand awareness in China without the need for a physical presence in China.”
Some U.S.-based small businesses already have found success selling to other businesses on Alibaba.com. Absonutrix, a Greensboro, North Carolina-based nutritional supplement company, has been working with Alibaba for three years. While Chinese competitors have similar products listed for one-tenth the price of their supplements, being based in America and offering “Made in USA” supplements have helped their brand stand out on Alibaba.
“We will quote our products one time, and there will be nine Chinese (price) quotations at the same time, but people prefer purchasing ingestible products from the U.S.,” said Absonutrix’s senior sales manager, Adam Thomas.
The 10-employee Absonutrix will hit the multi-million-dollar mark in business sales this year. Thomas declined to detail what percentage of his sales comes from Alibaba.
“We have had some large partners materialize from Alibaba—the ones I have dealt with are sitting around the half-million mark,” Thomas said. “But the biggest value is in penetrating new markets. Our company becomes more well-known.”
If a U.S. company is selling something that international consumers don’t readily have access to, that American company naturally will stand out among international competitors, said Kelland Willis, associate analyst at tech research firm Forrester.
“T-shirts, you can purchase in China—but nutritional product demand, for example, is so high right now, so it will naturally generate a lot of interest from customers in China,” Willis said. “If you have a niche product that there is demand for in the market—like formula, toothpaste, laundry detergent—consumers will go crazy for it.”
And, in some cases, just being an American company can help an entrepreneur stand out. DollarDays’ Joseph has seen business grow through Alibaba sales for the past four years. DollarDays boasts some 3.5 million registered users and attracts 1,400 new customers daily globally, with about 100 coming from Alibaba. “With Alibaba being so strong as they are in the Far East, that has helped awareness to small businesses that may be made in, or from, China,” Joseph said.
Betty Mills, a San Mateo, California-based business-to-business e-commerce company, has also found success on Alibaba. Mills has been selling everything from uniforms to health and wellness products for the past six years. Traffic the 20-employee company gets from Alibaba is “very significant,” said Victor Hanna, the company’s chief executive, also known as “Chief Betty.” Alibaba has helped Betty Mills grow total annual revenue to about $15 million. Exposure on the site has boosted business leads both domestically and abroad, and, like Absonutrix, Betty Mills has raised its profile for uniforms and health-related products by just being based in the United States, which has some cache on Alibaba, Hanna said.
“The amount of leads we get from Alibaba each month is in the thousands,” Hanna said. “We are very happy with the relationship and excited about the future.”
Not every entrepreneur has had a smooth experience on Alibaba. Take Wil Willis, a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania-based startup entrepreneur who designs for Confrontational Clothing. His 12-employee company manufactures and distributes graphic T-shirts that are popular among mixed martial arts fighters. With the brand relatively new—the startup is four years old—Willis decided to give Alibaba a try. Sure, Willis attracted international business-to-business clients. There was just one problem: most of the potential clients weren’t real. Willis would attempt to charge the credit card numbers he was given but couldn’t complete the transactions, a sign of false accounts.
“The majority of inquiries I received were scams,” Willis said. “I would get emails from Algeria, Dubai and more that would say they were looking to buy our clothing in bulk. One guy wanted 250,000 T-shirts and was ready to give me his credit card info right there—it was clear the transactions would be fraud.”
Willis says Alibaba was not good at catching scammers, despite several complaints he brought to the company’s attention. Alibaba declined to comment on its fraud protection policies; however, in its SEC filing, the company said “as of March 31, 2014, [Alibaba] … had a dedicated in-house team of over 2,000 customer service representatives focused on serving consumers and businesses on our marketplaces through telephone hotlines, real-time instant messaging and online inquiry systems.”
And while he did receive several inquiries from China, Willis says potential clients requested his company use outside firms to manufacture his shirts. Willis wasn’t open to that idea since he’s a U.S.-based manufacturer. His one-year deal is nearly up with Alibaba, and he won’t be re-signing, he said. “I am really unhappy with the year I’ve had with them,” Willis said. “I’m not bashing them, but I won’t be renewing the deal.”
Absonutrix’ Thomas said while he has received a few phishing emails via Alibaba, he has faith that once trading begins, deals will flow to his business.
“I think there will be a lot more comfort in the American market, and that [selling on Alibaba] will be more accepted,” Thomas said.
Hanna agrees and says once Betty Mills moves into private-label products, it will be primed for even more international growth. “When that time comes, we will be looking to ship internationally, and I don’t have any other way to get the exposure that I get today from Alibaba,” Hanna said. “The additional exposure we will get from the IPO will increase our U.S. registration base significantly.”
Those familiar with DollarDays, the country’s premier online wholesaler, will tell you its recent site redesign was long overdue. DollarDays had simply outgrown its website, limiting its ability to take the customers to the next level. In December 2013, DollarDays engaged Arizona agency Resound Creative to create a redesign strategy focused on user experience and customer satisfaction.
Six months later, on July 1, 2014, the DollarDays team proudly unveiled a new and improved website. “New and improved” is an understatement, as it has undergone a metamorphosis that not only includes a customer-centric makeover, but, upon visual inspection, the wow factor from the site’s graphics stunned regular users while providing a memorable user experience. With these upgrades, the average time spent on the website has increased, and DollarDays has been enjoying what it hoped for: an 81% decrease in bounce rate, 24% more registrations, a load time four times faster than the old site and a 12% increase in average order value.
While rolling out the new website, DollarDays introduces a marketing initiative focusing on driving new traffic to the site. During the site design, the DollarDays team thoroughly evaluated each marketing vendor and tool currently being used and added new marketing partners who are invested in DollarDays’ growth due to mutually beneficial performance incentives. A visually stunning site [combined] with a new user experience and the flow of new customers from performing marketing initiatives are the right ingredients for a successful site rollout.
Marc Joseph, DollarDays’ CEO, said, “We couldn’t be happier about the new site. The improvements we made were exactly what our customers wanted. The strong feedback we’re getting tells us we’re doing something right! […] One of our most significant changes was in our mobile presence. Resound Creative designed the site in a manner that allows for responsive viewing, which means our site will resize itself to adapt to any type of device you are using, whether it’s a smartphone or a tablet.”
One thing that will not change at DollarDays is its $5,000 monthly merchandise giveaway on Facebook to causes such as education, homelessness, animal welfare, eldercare, teachers and students.
“We have connected with a community of over 210,000 on Facebook that is likeminded. They respond to helping others and nominate teachers, shelters, schools, etc., to win in the monthly giveaways—they wait for the announcement of the winners each month like it was the winner of ‘American Idol’! We love being able to give back to the community,” said Mr. Joseph, who also authors a monthly Huffington Post article that offers reflection on a cause that is in alignment with the DollarDays’ ideals. Joseph’s July Huffington Post article is a passionate look at our kids’ education.
In 2001, DollarDays was created to provide quality wholesale products in small case packs at great prices for small retail businesses as a way to compete with the chains in their communities. This vision remains the focus, including a customer base that has evolved to include thousands of nonprofit organizations, as well as consumers. […]
On a final note, Joseph declared, “We have truly reinvented online wholesaling. What was once a strictly B2B space is now wide open for not only businesses, but nonprofits and consumers. Each of these users is finding DollarDays as their go-to niche for wholesale savings. Our new website is something that any user can use and enjoy with ease.”
About DollarDays Founded in 2001, DollarDays is the leading supplier of wholesale goods for nonprofits, businesses and betterment organizations. By sourcing affordable products, backed by exceptional service and meaningful community engagement, we strive to inspire and empower our customers to accomplish their missions to improve the lives of people around the world. Recognized as the City of Phoenix Mayor’s Office “2018 Product Exporter of the Year” and Internet Retailer Magazine’s “B2B E-commerce Marketer of the Year” for 2016 and 2017, DollarDays is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.dollardays.com.
Trying to save money shopping online can be exhausting. Entire industries have grown up online to help you save money, but you can spend so much time trying to figure out what to do that in the long run, it’s not even worth it to save a couple of dollars.
So Many Options!
For instance, there are several coupon sites you can go to that aggregate coupon codes from online merchants so you have one place to look. Sites like RetailMeNot.com, CouponCabin.com and BradsDeals.com pull together this information so you can take the codes to sites to help save money.
You start to add all this up with coupons, rebates, deal-of-the-day sites, etc., and a serious shopper could be spending their entire morning bouncing back and forth trying to figure out where to save that extra dollar.
Now comparison shopping sites like PriceGrabber.com, Google Shopping, Shopping.com and Shopzilla.com have begun to streamline the exercise of shopping by letting you compare the same item on one page with prices from several different selling sites. This is progress for the hurried shopper.
Money-saving Secret
But the hidden secret of the Internet is the emergence of warehouse club sites that take away all the fluff, and, if you are willing to buy in a little bit larger quantities, they truly save you money.
Go to Costco.com; they have thousands of items on their site that cannot only be found in the warehouse club stores and bought online, but many new additional items can be bought just online from them. Look at their brand Kirkland baby wipes and baby diapers. What new family does not need a case of those to survive the week? Their pricing on this high-demand commodity item beats all the coupon sites, rebate sites and even the deal sites.
Go to [the] BJ’s Wholesale Club [website] and find supplies for your home office from recognized brand names like Hammermill Paper, which verifies the better pricing of this newer group of sites that actually do save you money.
DollarDays supplies over 300,000 general merchandise products at wholesale and closeout pricing that falls right in line with these wholesale club sites. Here, the consumer can find all the back-to-school products, health and beauty products, and all the snacks they need to fill their pantries or the clothing needed to fill their closets.
Internet entrepreneurs try to figure out the most efficient way to get you the best deal. That is why lots of ideas are thrown against the wall, and, over time, with a few developing into winners. [T]his will be how Internet shopping sorts itself out to become the most efficient way save money on the products that you really need and want. Will the coupon sites be the winners? [W]ill the rebate sites prevail, or is it the deal sites that rise above the rest? Maybe all three will win—it just depends on what you are looking to buy.
Marc Joseph is the founder of DollarDays, the premier online wholesaler that helps small businesses compete against larger enterprises and nonprofit organizations find the products they need to support their causes.
