Tag: marc joseph

What Happens When Unemployment Runs Dry?

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[According to Forbes], short-term unemployment—six months or less—was 4.9% [in January 2013], […] only 0.7% above the pre-recession rate. Long-term unemployment […] is at 3%, which is three times higher than before the recession. The long-term unemployed make up 38% of all workers without jobs. This troubling [statistic] not only [affects] the societal safety net supporting them, but [also] their own personal well-being, because the longer they are out of the daily workforce, [the more quickly] their skills decline from [disuse].

Long-term unemployment is [seen] at a higher rate [in] young [adults], [older generations], the less-educated, and African-American and Latino workers, [according to a recent report in] The New York Times. Older workers are less likely to be laid off than younger workers, but they are about half as likely to be rehired. [As a result], older workers have seen the largest proportionate increase in unemployment during this recession recovery. Unemployment for people ages 50 to 65 has doubled, [a]nd, as their unemployment drags on longer, the reemployment of older workers declines severely. Older workers (those ages 50 to 61) who have been unemployed for [at least] 17 months have only a 9% chance of finding a new job in the next three months; [t]hose over 62 have only a 6% chance.

[Today, more than] four million Americans are considered long-term unemployed. They are not only disconnected from the workforce but, [often] mainstream culture. If we can’t get them reconnected, we are looking at devastating costs to not only them but [to] our society as a whole. There is a 50% increase in death rates for older male workers in the years following a job loss, and they can expect to live [a year-and-a-half less] than [someone] with a job. Unemployment [also] has a weighty effect on family members; [d]ivorce rates increase by 18%, [and] children whose fathers lost a job when they were kids earn 9% less annually as adults. […]

All of this takes its toll on the safety net provided for those out of work. Our government extends food stamps for those in need through SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and the Workforce Investment Act, or WIA, helps equip workers with the skills they need to find jobs in [today’s] workforce. […] Churches constantly are helping those in need, and [The] Salvation Army is there to help the underprivileged, [b]ut […] all of this is being stretched to the limits. The latest controversy in Washington, [D.C.], is the issue with raising the federal debt ceiling to accommodate all the needs this country has. I am sure like all of the other [crises] recently in our capital, this, too, will [result in] cuts in federal spending [to] programs that help those who need it most—like the […] long-term unemployed.

To support this suffering segment of our population, we […] have to come together. The United Way, the largest nonprofit in the country, has […] a simple program where anyone can just pick up the phone and call 2-1-1 […] to obtain assistance from local and national social service programs, as well as local and national governmental agencies. […]

Unemployment takes its toll not only on those out of work, but it stresses an entire community. Our government can help relieve some of that stress by addressing the federal debt ceiling and making sure there are incentives left for everyone to contribute more to the nonprofits who help those most in need. […] The government can aid the long-term unemployed by […] increasing access to small-business financing so these business[es] can hire more people. Our leaders can help by implementing subsidies for businesses that make the effort to hire the long term unemployed. No one in America wants to be unemployed. No one in America wants to see our fellow citizens suffer emotionally and financially. This is truly a pulling-together moment.

Original article here:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/what-happens-when-unemplo_b_2812090.html

Nominate a Small Business to Win in DollarDays’ $5,000 Giveaway

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“If you know anything about DollarDays, the nation’s premier online wholesaler, then you know we are committed to the success of small businesses everywhere,” said DollarDays’ CEO, Marc Joseph. “This commitment is evident in a myriad of ways—from wholesale and closeout pricing on over 225,000 products to several online business opportunities to a monthly $5,000 merchandise giveaway. 

“Our country was settled by innovators and risk takers. This entrepreneurial spirit is still alive today, and each of us must go out of our way to ensure its continued growth, as our nation’s small-business owners are truly the backbone of our country,” said Joseph.

In cadence with DollarDays’ support of small business, Joseph shares a fresh, reflective insight about the critical role small business plays in America via his most recent Huffington Post article, “Is Entrepreneurship Dead?” This article complements the sentiment behind DollarDays’ February $5,000 merchandise giveaway, “Pay It Forward,” designed to help small businesses launch or expand. Anyone can nominate a small business in their area by visiting DollarDays’ Facebook page.

Each month, DollarDays gives away $5,000 in merchandise to nonprofits or small businesses with the mindset of giving back to the hardworking people who are truly the strength of our nation’s economy. 

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.

Is Entrepreneurship Dead in America?

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Over 200 years ago, James Madison wrote, “[T]he greater proportion of citizens who are their own masters, the more free, the more independent, and the more happy must be society itself.” Entrepreneurship is a critical measurement of our country’s political vitality and our own personal liberties. The more independent citizens become, power and responsibility will be distributed broader, which, in turn, strengthens our democracy. We, as Americans, have always viewed entrepreneurship as a fundamental way for upward mobility, where average people can build their wealth through a business venture that can be passed on to their kids or sold at retirement age. It could be the family farm, a local restaurant or a retail store that provides income and a place to teach their children and others the value of responsibility and working hard.

The Washington Monthly reported that compared to a generation ago, it is now much harder to start a business in America and keep it running. In 1980, “young firms”—companies [fewer] than five years old—account[ed] for 50% of all going concerns; [t]oday, it is less than 35%. In 1977, there were 35 new employer businesses for every 10,000 citizens; [t]oday, there are fewer than 17—a 50% drop! Startups made up 12% of U.S. companies in 1980, and today, they are less than 8%. We now average 7.8 startup jobs per 1,000 Americans, compared to 10.8 during the Bush years and 11.2 during Clinton.

So what is causing Americans to be less entrepreneurial than their fathers and mothers? We can all point to this recession we have been grappling with over the last four years, but I think it is deeper than that. In addition to new regulations of healthcare reform, an increase in regulatory activity in several industries, and the uncertainty about taxes, there are several causes that come into play that make it so hard to become an entrepreneur today:

  • There continues to be a shortage of financing alternatives to start businesses. Before the housing bubble, many Americans were using the equity in their homes as collateral for the financing of their business. Now that this equity has disappeared, borrowing against your house is just a pipe dream. [While] venture capitalists are in the news [almost every day] funding the big hitters, in truth, only an extremely small fraction of startups have access to venture funds. Venture investors with billions of dollars are pursuing a select group of entrepreneurs. Even though they fail to recoup their cash on 75% of their deals, the other 25% is big enough for investment companies to continue to be looking for those few new cutting-edge companies but has no effect with the mom-and-pop shop[s]. Add to this that bank loans to small businesses fell to a 12-year low in 2012, and financing may be the most powerful reason for the dramatic drop in entrepreneurship.
  • Technology […] is also responsible for displacing independent businesses across several […] verticals. How many travel agents have lost their business to the Internet? Where are the video stores, the record stores, the bookstores? Why do you need to see a middleman to buy products when you can go right onto the Internet to find goods? [T]echnology [also] provides the opportunity to combine small businesses into a few big ones—just ask Amazon.
  • The well-financed chain businesses are killing the little guy. Look what Staples has done to the office supply industry or [what] The Home Depot did to hardware stores or Best Buy did to electronic stores. Walmart controls close to 50% of some lines of the grocery and the general merchandise business, where a generation ago, thousands of families made their living selling these goods.

The Economist though still thinks America is a beacon for entrepreneurs. Our country was settled by innovators and risk-takers who were willing to sacrifice what they knew to be safe for new opportunities. In our current day, we continue to read about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, who inspire us with how they built companies out of their garage. In a sense, this country was set up to encourage individuals to follow their dream:

  • Our culture encourages risk-taking. American companies have the unusual freedom to hire and fire workers and at the same time workers have the freedom to leave companies for better opportunities. We [believe] our fate still lies in our own hands.
  • Throughout our country, there are close relationships between universities and industry. Our universities are economic engines rather than ivory towers. They promote technology offices, science parks, business incubators and venture funds. Stanford University gained $200 million in stock when Google went public, [and] close to half of the startups in Silicon Valley have their roots in the university.
  • Historically, the United States immigration policy has been fairly open. We are a country of immigrants, and the brightest from overseas can see this. Just look at Silicon Valley again, where 52% of the startups were founded by immigrants, up from 25% just 10 years ago.
  • American consumers are unusually willing to try new products of all kinds, even it means learning new skills and taking a bigger chunk out of their savings. The bold American consumer is vocal in getting manufacturers to improve their products to meet their needs. This is not a bashful country.

On one hand, we have statistical proof that entrepreneurs are fading from the American landscape; on the other hand, we have many pieces in place to nurture and grow the entrepreneurial spirit. Are we at a crossroads where the determination of our forefathers built our great society, yet this generation is going to let it fade away?

America has realized that we have to do more to encourage entrepreneurs to follow their dream. Startup America Partnership was formed by the Kauffman and Case foundations to help entrepreneurs get their companies off the ground by delivering free or low-cost services and connecting them with larger corporations. Score is a nonprofit association helping small businesses succeed by using volunteer mentors who share their knowledge in an effort to give back to their community.

These are challenging economic times. A third of all startups fail within the first two years, and 60% are doomed to fail by the fourth year. Who in their right mind would play these odds, especially during these financially uncertain times? [A]s a society, we must look back to our founding fathers, [who] had the vision to create a nation that strengthens democracy through individuals taking the initiative and the chances to better those around them. Entrepreneurship is not dead; it is just reemerging on a different playing field, where innovative people need to be technologically in tune with new roads to travel. Now is the time to stop dreaming and begin to act on your dreams. When you think that 16 out of the 30 corporations that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average started during a recession, why can’t that be you?

Original article here:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/is-entrepreneurship-dead-america_b_2551281.html

DollarDays Offers Online Business for $9.95 per Month, Helping Americans Make Money, Receive Peace of Mind

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With the uncertainty of the fiscal cliff, DollarDays took a proactive approach and created an exciting business opportunity to help nervous Americans earn extra income in 2013 to offset the hardship of a potential tax increase.

DollarDays’ CEO, Marc Joseph, announced today, “In these tough economic times, DollarDays is moving forward with the opportunity for business-minded individuals to own their own online store for only $9.95 per month, with waived activation fees and inspired commission incentives. Through the DollarDays Distributorship [Program], individuals can own their own store without having to spend money on expensive inventory or pay thousands for an online store build. DollarDays manages the inventory, provides an online store and many resources for success. For $9.95 a month, not only is it a brand-new opportunity with great potential, it’s a tool to help Americans have peace of mind about putting money in the bank.” 

For those who already own an online or brick-and-mortar store, there’s quite a strategic opportunity available within the Distributorship Program. Store owners can buy wholesale merchandise through their distributorship store to sell at their existing store, earning commission on their inventory! This is great news for eBay and Amazon sellers, too. 

Really, anyone can own their own business and start earning money now—as a distributor, an affiliate or both. As always, DollarDays’ commitment to small business[es] is their number one goal.

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.

Everyone Needs a Bed

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Homelessness, poverty, recession—you would hope that a new year would wipe away all of the bad things that have happened to our nation, but it does not. We still wake up in 2013 with the same issues we had in 2012. Is there any hope in sight?

According to the U.S. Census, the official poverty rate was 15%. There were 46 million people in poverty. Mississippi was at 20.8%, New Mexico was 19.7%, Louisiana was 18.2%, South Carolina was 17.7%, and Arizona came in at 17.6$. To add more heartache, the poverty rate for children under age 18 was 21.9% across the country, with 32% of children in poverty in Mississippi, 31% in New Mexico and 29% in Louisiana.

Talking about our kids, the Annie E. Casey Foundation reported that the number of working youth dropped by almost half since 2000, and employment among young people is at the lowest level since the 1950s. Nearly 6.5 million U.S. teens and young adults are neither in school nor in the workforce, which will lead to chronic underemployment as adults and failure to gain the skills employers will need in the coming years. This just feeds the cycle where they become another taxpayer cost with our government spending more to support them. When you consider that 20%, or 1.4 million, of these youths have children of their own, the cycle accelerates where this group can’t find full-time work and build a career, which now perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of poverty.

The dire consequence of poverty is homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports there are 633,782 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States. Of that number, 239,403 are people in families and 392,945 are individuals. About 10% of the homeless population, 62,619 are veterans. During the year, 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness. Twenty-three percent of people experiencing homelessness on any given night are children. Seven-hundred [and] seventy thousand homeless children are enrolled in public schools. An estimated 50,000 youth experience long-term homelessness. Also, homeless people spend four days longer per hospital visit than the normal population.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has $2.146 billion to spend to help the homeless, which is an increase of $245 million from last year, [b]ut this is really a town-by-town, city-by-city issue that has to be solved locally with help from the HUD budget. The Chicago Tribune reported in December where the DuPage County Public Action to Deliver Shelter, or PADS, finished 12 apartments partially funded by HUD to help transition the homeless into permanent residence. One woman had been homeless for nearly five years after working for more than 30 years. A family affected by unemployment and a disabling health condition was moved into an apartment. PADS served 1,398 individuals and 138 families that included 236 children. This was a 29% increase in families and 30% increase in children from last year. PADS gets the children enrolled in school and gets the family into a healthcare system so they don’t have to continue to use the emergency rooms.

As was reported in The Boston Globe, the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless did a recent count one night, and 150 individuals were sleeping outside. The total number of homeless was 1,000 compared to 850 last year. Advocates say they need over 400 more beds to meet the demand of the winter season. [I]t goes on city by city, state by state—we are all counting those sleeping outside and the number of beds we need to take care of the underprivileged.

Now that the holiday season is over, many of us are suffering from compassion fatigue. We showed kindness, consideration and care to those in need from Thanksgiving through Christmas. It’s a new year, and we need to move on with our lives. The homeless, the poor—they can’t move on like the rest of us.

No one wants to be poor. No one wants to be homeless. As our leaders are battling in Washington, [D.C.], about how to spend our taxes, the issues of poverty and homelessness have got to be top of mind. Our leaders need to know that we as a nation can’t stand by and watch our fellow Americans suffer. Write your congressman. [W]rite your senator. Everyone needs to have a bed as we head into 2013.

Original article here:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/everyone-needs-a-bed_b_2396580.html

The Poor, the Elderly, the Disabled Stand to Lose the Most

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More Americans used food stamps to buy their Thanksgiving dinner than any time in our history according to U.S. News & World Report. Forty-two million of us are on food stamps, and the food-stamp program (now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or “SNAP”) cost the U.S. government $72 billion last year. This means one in seven U.S. residents receive[s] SNAP benefits.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, three out of four SNAP households include a child, a person age 60 or older, or a disabled person. Households with [a] very low income of about $8,800 a year are the receivers of SNAP. The average monthly SNAP benefit per household was $287, or $4.30 per person per day. This was a 70% increase in SNAP benefits from the 26 million people who received benefits in 2007. If we need one measurement of how crushing this recession has been, this is it.

So here we are in the last month of 2012 with our government facing another crisis (commonly now referred to as “the fiscal cliff”), and wouldn’t you know that charitable giving is once again in the forefront of cuts. According to CNN, the charitable deduction is the ninth-largest tax expenditure in the federal budget. In 2014, the amount of revenue the government would forgo from those claiming charitable deductions is estimated to reach $52 billion. Currently, the wealthiest Americans can write off as charitable deductions 35% of their total contributions, and President Obama wants to move that down to 28% in the latest rounds of negotiations on Capitol Hill.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that there are significant differences in how much we give. In Utah and Mississippi, households average 7% of their income to charity, while in Massachusetts and three other New England states, giving is under 3%. Middle-class Americans give a far bigger share of their discretionary income, with households earning $50,000 to $75,000 giving an average of 7.6% of their income to charity compared to 4.2% of people making over $100,000. Religion has a big influence on giving patterns. Two of the top nine states giving the most as a percent[age] of income are Utah and Idaho, [which] have a high number of Mormon residents [who] have a tradition of tithing 10% of their income to the church. All of the other seven top states are in the Bible [B]elt.

Although not all [of a] nonprofit[‘s] income is tied to tax incentives, the fear among nonprofits is that much of it is tied to what Washington, [D.C.], will be deciding in the next few weeks. According to The Arizona Republic, […] 28% of Arizonans claimed federal tax deductions for nonprofit organizations that totaled $2.73 billion. The charitable deduction is especially popular as you climb the income scale; whereas 12% of taxpayers earning less than $50,000 claimed this deduction, 81% of those making more than $100,000 claimed the charitable deduction.

Who is going to help those in need if our government decreases the incentive many Americans have to give? In states where the population has a tendency to give anyway, those in need may be propped up, but in states where tax incentives drive giving, those in need may be in real trouble. […]

In reality, giving has got to come from the heart, not because you are saving some money in taxes. In actuality, though, movements by the government to guide how we live and spend our money are a major influence on how nonprofits get funding. All of us who trust in the good of nonprofits must let our leaders know that we believe it when the nonprofit organizations tell us that they fear this fiscal cliff will shut down donations, and this result touches us all. […]

This recession has taken its toll deeper than anyone expected. When over 42 million Americans have to rely on our government for food stamps and most nonprofits must also rely on our government to help influence donations coming their way, we cannot absorb any more hits to our charity safety net. The lame-duck session is now going on in Washington, D.C. We cannot afford lame-duck results.

Original article here:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/tax-incentives-donating-_b_2203796.html

9 Tips to Get Last-minute Holiday Shoppers into Your Store

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Thanksgiving is over, [and] Black Friday is in full swing. Is it too late for your small business to capture holiday sales? No way. A recent study by PriceGrabber shows more than half of consumers expect the best holiday deals between Thanksgiving and Christmas. With the National Retail Federation predicting holiday sales to grow 4.1% this year—the most optimistic forecast since the recession—you can still lure last-minute shoppers right up until Santa loads his sleigh. Here’s how:

  1. Start with current customers. “Small retailers should target their current customer base—those who already know and love them for their uniqueness,” says Kat Bouchard at small-business consultancy The Simple Art of Business. “Encourage these customers to ‘bring a friend to a holiday shopping party’ or ‘bring a friend and receive 10 percent off.”
  2. Maximize social media. Shop.org and BIGinsight found more than one-third of shoppers visit Facebook when researching products. “Social-media sites are powerful customer service and sales tools,” says Eddie Machaalani, co-CEO of BigCommerce, which provides online retailers the tools to launch a store and sell more. “Monitor social channels for customer inquiries, and track keywords for possible sales opportunities. Have your social profiles updated with the most current links, photos or videos of featured products, plus contact information to make the engagement experience for current and potential customers as simple as possible.”
  3. Reach out with email. “Small businesses can compete with big-box retailers around the holidays using their email list,” says Michael Wolfe, President of social media marketing company WAM Enterprises. “These are people who have opted into your updates. If you can create a catchy subject line and provide real value inside your email, people will open it and take action.” For maximum results, optimize your emails for mobile viewing.
  4. Don’t sweat “showroom-ing.” The thought of consumers using smartphones to search for cheaper prices on in-store merchandise strikes fear in the hearts of small retailers, [b]ut Deloitte data show[s] shoppers who use smartphones in-store are actually 14% more likely to buy in-store than those who don’t. When you see someone whip out a phone, quickly engage to answer questions and highlight the benefits of buying from you, whether that’s free gift-wrapping or simply getting the item immediately.
  5. Get moving. Mobile-influenced sales will account for 5.1% of retail store sales this holiday season, reports Deloitte. You don’t have to offer m-commerce—or even e-commerce—to benefit. If customers have opted in to receive text messages from you, use texting to attract them with limited-time offers or last-minute sales. [You can also] reach out to prospective customers near your store with location-based “geo-fencing” technology. “Geo-fencing allows retailers to target customers within a set radius and deliver special offers directly to their mobile device,” explains Dan Dufault, EVP of sales and marketing at payment solutions provider Merchant Warehouse, whose Genius Customer Engagement Platform, due out in January, will help small businesses accept payments and engage customers via mobile. Moasis, Yowza and NCR Silver are other location-based marketing options small businesses can implement affordably and quickly.
  6. Drive offline purchasing with online marketing. PriceGrabber says nearly 90% of shoppers will go online to research products and prices before heading out to stores. Even if you don’t sell online, take advantage of this trend by making sure your store is listed on local search directories and ratings-and-review sites. Use relevant keywords so your business ranks high in search results, and consider bumping up your budget for pay-per-click ads or Facebook ads.
  7. Offer free shipping. If you do sell online, free shipping is a must, says Mitchell Harper, co-CEO of BigCommerce. Harper cites data from lab42 that 79% of shoppers prefer free shipping to discounts on products. You can make it contingent on a certain purchase level, such as over $50.
  8. Host events—online and off. “Retailing is theater, and customers love to be entertained while shopping,” says Marc Joseph, founder of DollarDays, an online wholesaler catering to small retailers, and author of The Secrets of Retailing…or How to Beat Walmart. In-store live music, “meet the designer” events, fashion shows, children’s story hours or special shopping nights for loyal customers are just some of the events Joseph suggests. When planning an event, he cautions, weigh the costs and benefits, and be sure it won’t take up too much floor space or distract from actual shopping. For example, All American Clothing Co. is getting into the spirit with its “12 Days of Christmas” sales event online starting Black Friday. “We’ll also incorporate a ‘secret Santa’ on our website, where shoppers can find Santa for free prizes and giveaways,” says Logan Beam, Marketing and Communications Director at the family-owned company. “The 12 Days of Christmas event keeps shoppers coming back to shop for 12 straight days, while the secret Santa feature gets them looking around our website. We’ve had great success with this last-minute shopping event.”
  9. Milk the media. Tap into your connections with local newspaper reporters, radio and TV stations, and bloggers, advises Joseph. They’re hungry for holiday content, so promote yourself as a go-to spokesperson with a menu of holiday-themed topics to discuss. For example, if you own a gourmet cooking store, offer to discuss holiday menu ideas, hot cooking-related gifts, holiday tabletop décor ideas or the best gourmet gifts under $25.

Original article here: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/articles/9-tips-to-get-last-minute-holiday-shoppers-into-your-store/

Disaster Creates Huge Demand for Survival Supplies for DollarDays

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“We had orders for survival supplies even before [Hurricane] Sandy hit the East Coast as people prepared for the worst, and they are still pouring in. The demand for our wholesale Marc Gold fleece blankets is incredible—we continue to ship thousands.

“In addition to stay-warm supplies such as jackets, hats and gloves, [items like] flashlights, personal hygiene kits and food are selling fast. Businesses, nonprofits and consumers are buying in bulk to be well prepared for the long road to recovery. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be in such a horrible disaster. We are happy to be able to provide some relief to the victims of Sandy.

“Read the Huffington Post article, ‘Holes in the Safety Net,’ to see why DollarDays recommends that people partner up with The Salvation Army, Red Cross, Gospel Rescue Mission and other nonprofits equipped to help with disasters,” says Marc Joseph, President and CEO of DollarDays, a subsidiary of America’s Suppliers, Inc. (AASL), the premier Internet-based wholesaler to small businesses, nonprofits and local distributors.

You can help, too, by participating in DollarDays’ Facebook merchandise giveaway by nominating any nonprofit organization to share $5,000 in merchandise through November. Additionally, visit DollarDays’ site, where designer Marc Gold is […] giving away 100 cases of toys to 100 different community toy drives, and nominate your favorite organization. It’s an easy and free way to help others at the time of year that giving is so important.

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.

Holes in the Safety Net

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America’s national safety net of social services is a curious public/private mix supporting the most vulnerable people in our society. It has been clearly pointed out to us this fall that in our current economic crisis, the government will have to be doing less, because the dollars are not there.

According to the [National] Council of Nonprofits, because [C]ongress has failed to act to reduce the deficit, $54.6 billion will be chopped from domestic programs. This includes $600 million from Head Start, $140 million in financial aid to college students, $2 billion from rental assistance programs, and $600 million for disaster relief and block-grant funding for health and human services. They also posit that special education will be cut by $1 billion; childcare and development cut by $187 million; and food for women, infants and children (i.e., the WIC Program) will be cut by $543 million. America is very lucky that in just about every community, there are nonprofits there to help catch us as we fall, although these government cuts will certainly be more than they can handle.

Let’s take a look at a few of the nonprofit safety nets that are out there today to help:

  • The Salvation Army […] is the second-largest charity in America. […] There are […] nearly 8,000 Salvation Army locations and more than 4.5 million volunteers assisting 32 million people each year. [T]he charity operates in 125 countries [and] in 175 different languages. They operate over 1,300 thrift stores in the United States and support causes for disaster relief, soup kitchens, drug and alcohol counseling, camps, community centers, and homeless shelters.
  • Goodwill […] was founded in 1902 in Boston, where they began to collect used household goods and clothing in the wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods, which were then resold or given to the people who repaired them. Goodwill has turned into a $4 billion nonprofit organization operating a network of 165 independent community-based organizations in the United States, Canada and 14 other countries. They provide employment, training and support services to 4.2 million individuals.
  • The Association for Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM) [Editor’s note: In fall 2018, AGRM became CityGate Network] was founded in New York City in 1913 to provide emergency shelter, food, youth and family services, education and job training programs, rehabilitation programs, assistance to the elderly poor, and assistance to at risk youth. AGRM has a network of 275 rescue missions providing 43 million meals and 26 million nights of lodging with 300,000 volunteers.
  • [The Marine] Toys for Tots [Foundation] began in 1947 in Los Angeles and then expanded nationwide. They have provided 351 million toys to 166 million needy children and conduct local campaigns in 516 communities.

The Wilmington Star News [in North Carolina] reported this October that nonprofits have seen huge cuts in government support, including agencies that help seniors, children and the mentally ill, and organizations that oppose domestic violence. […] One-third of [the state’s] nonprofits cut services. In North Carolina, nonprofits create 450,000 jobs, which is one-tenth of all state jobs, equal to the employment in retail. [North Carolina’s] nonprofits pay $13 million in wages. Add onto this the planned government cuts at the end of this year, and [the] state […] will be reeling in cutbacks to those who need it most. I don’t know how our big charities can step up any more than they are doing now to pick up the pieces.

In this election year, the Social Science Research Network published a report comparing the charitable giving based on your political affiliation. They concluded that conservatives and liberals are equally generous in their donation habits. They then showed that while levels of giving were roughly equivalent, liberals are much more likely to donate to secular organizations, while conservatives are more likely to donate to religious causes. Their final conclusion was that charitable contributions fluctuate based on the political landscape. [One of the two major parties] donate[s] less money when [the other major party] occupies the White House.

We all know that the most vulnerable part of our society is going to be in real trouble for the next several years as we struggle to get this economy back on track. This is the season where the rest of us have got to pitch in and support those fine organizations that are creating the safety net while our government gets its act together. Get interested in The Salvation Army. Get interested in Goodwill. Get interested in AGRM. Get interested in Toys for Tots. […]

It does not matter if you are a Democrat or Republican or Independent; [w]e are all obligated to help the less fortunate in our community. If you can’t help out with cash or donated clothing, help out by becoming one of the volunteers that ring the bell or sorts the toys. We, as human beings who have compassion and humanity taught to us from the beginning of life, can make a difference for those less fortunate.

Original article here:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/non-profits_b_2057546.html

“Obama’s the One,” Say Small-business Owners, Customers of DollarDays

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“Our customers are small-business owners trying to stay afloat as the economy continues to recover. Given they’re a strong representation of hardworking middle-class Americans, we created an online presidential poll to see who they will vote for on Election Tuesday.

“As of this morning, 55% of the poll participants are hoping to see Obama in the White House for another term, while 42% are Romney hopefuls. That’s a significant gap and certainly says a lot about what hardworking Americans think is best for the country. There are many issues in this election that have a direct effect on small businesses, such as healthcare coverage, government regulation and taxes.

“Our customers live these issues every day, and this poll indicates they believe Obama is the one to best address these issues,” says Marc Joseph, President and CEO of DollarDays, a subsidiary of Americas Suppliers, Inc. (AASL), a premier Internet-based wholesaler to small businesses, nonprofits and local distributors.

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.