Kids Identities Are Being Stolen

On June 12, 2011, In business, By Takara Alexis

Hundreds of online businesses are finding inactive Social Security numbers online – most of which are assigned to children younger than 18 who have not started using them yet – and selling them under different names to assist people in establishing fake credit.

The scheme could lead to significant debts for children that might be almost impossible to pay off. The Better Business Bureau is advising parents to be on the lookout for the warning signs that point to their kid’s identities being compromised or stolen.

For adults, last year alone, 8.1 million Americans became victims of ID theft, resulting in the loss of $37 billion, according to a 2011 report from Javelin Strategy & Research. While this number is high, NBC TODAY reports that it remains difficult to define how many children are actually affected by identity theft because most cases go undiscovered for years. However, an identity theft monitoring company, Debix, found an alarming 4,000 cases of corrupted identities out of only 40,000 children.

Be aware of how to acquire your child’s credit report. Getting access to your child’s records is actually a different process than obtaining your own. Your child’s report cannot be retrieved using the congressionally mandated free credit report website when children are younger than 13 and even sometimes for kids 14 to 18.

Recognize the signs of trouble. Watch out for red flags that signify there might be a dilemma, such as your son or daughter receiving preapproved credit card offers or calls from collection agencies.

Understand what to do if you believe that your child has become victim. According to the Federal Trade Commission, every parent should check his or her child’s credit report on the 16th birthday. It’s not good to check it too often, but checking then leaves sufficient time to fix errors and activity before the child goes off to college and tries to obtain financial aid. If suspicious activity appears, parents should contact all three credit bureaus and request reports immediately. From there, depending on the state’s credit freeze rule, placing a credit freeze should be considered.

in search of , http://tinyurl.com/dktx98. I need help with Collecting Bad Debt.

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Vehicle Emergency Kits

On September 13, 2010, In business, By Aarte G Larax

I encountered the scene of an accident while driving out of the city to rendezvous with a pal last night. I pulled over next to the vehicle that looks to have crashed onto a tree and got my trusty vehicle emergency kits out.

I knew I had a travel safety alarm and personal safety light within reach inside the glove compartment and promptly put some emergency flashing lights up. Neither did I forget the 4-in-1 emergency auto tool and 9-LED flashlight from the trunk.

I could make a female out inside the car as I walked towards it. Up close, I saw she was awake and struggling to free herself from the seat behind the wheel. I took note of her head contusion.

I pulled out the emergency auto tool from my vehicle emergency kits and used it, as intended, to break the window behind where the woman was. Through the window, I reached in to unlock the front door.

I soon discovered that the steering wheel would not budge, nor would the car seat. I needed a hand. I figured I could push her out while someone else pulled her out. I looked around; there were no signs of other motorists approaching.

I then rummaged through my vehicle emergency kits while trying to come up with other ideas. I switched my travel safety alarm on. Its sound can reach up to 9 feet away.

To my surprise, a pair of patrol officers arrived in their police car not several minutes later. They did not miss the flashing lights, they explained, and moved double time upon detecting the alarm sound.

Thanks to my vehicle emergency kits, I was able to help a car accident victim. The police drove the woman at once to the hospital. As for me, well, I felt like a hero

To get your vehicle emergency kits please visit Lifeline Products.

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Scared Of Dogs? Use Mace Canine Repellent Spray To Protect Yourself From Dog Attack

On September 6, 2010, In business, By Aarte G Larax

I am now a single mother to two handsome young boys, their father passed away a couple years ago. So I hold all the responsibility of keeping them safe and staying close as a family so we can stay strong throughout our lives.

Our community has numerous dogs from canines to pit bulls. It is extremely dangerous walking down the street knowing the fact that these dogs can attack you anytime. My young boys like to explore around the neighborhood. That’s what I was worried about.

Once I found a Mace Canine Repellent Spray to avoid dog attack online I felt a lot better having my boys around the neighborhood with out having to worry that they weren’t protected. It is a small, accessible and handy device that can be opened within a second.

After school when I let the boys go play outside on their bikes and skateboards I make sure they do not leave the house without their Mace Canine Dog Repellent. It is a great personal spay repellent against dogs and other possible dangers!

It is so efficient and makes a great addition for kids to carry around for self defense. It makes excellent kids self defense that both boys and girls can use to prevent an attack from dogs.

This dog repellent is a very ideal non-lethal weapon kids and teens must always bring. We all know that there are dangerous dogs out there that can attack us anytime. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Whether my boys are walking or riding on a bike, they will just press and spray the Mace Canine Dog Repellent in a second and any dog will be interrupted from making a dreadful attack. It works for about 10 feet.

My kids self defense is nothing but the best and most effective non-lethal weapon. If you try it, you will know what I was trying to say.

Robtnert B Tasmmery is one of the best known experts on non-lethal self defense products. Picking the best self defense product is more useful than practicing for years studying martial arts. You have many options, including stun guns, pepper sprays and personal alarms. He provides full support and information on how to use the products.

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Bug Detector Used To Reveal Hidden Video Camera

On September 6, 2010, In business, By Aarte G Larax

Being the executive assistant of a company president has taken me places. Among my travel essentials is a video camera detector. It alerts me of the presence of surveillance video recorders where my boss conducts his business.

He could be inside a car, at any given board room or hotel lounge, and suddenly talk business. I am present in these restricted conferences and make sure nothing is caught on surveillance video recorders, as is only right.

The video camera detector I have is desirable for its 2-in-1 tracing ability. This wired or wireless camera multifunctional detector provides laser frequency visual detection, for video, and wide band radio frequency detection, for audio.

Not only wired and wireless covert cameras but also concealed wireless microphones on site can be scoured for. This video camera detector displays their signal strength through 4 LED and audible or vibrating RF prompts.

It keeps up with my pace. The wired or wireless camera multifunctional detector sports a viewing port on which I can see the location of any camera lens in a 10 feet range, represented by flashing red lights.

For protecting cell calls between me and my boss, which I could receive perhaps a comfort room or even my hotel room, I switch to RF function. I then make area sweeps for audio recorders.

I change from detection with sound to the silent function for trailing my boss in his continuous flurry of meetings. My video camera detector is conveniently sized for keeping in a purse of blazer pocket.

I share a distaste with my boss for surveillance video recorders capturing our actions freely, so he has given expressed approval of my use of bug detection. I have been candid about fishing for video and audio transmitters although he never asked for it.

Chuck A Dugherty is a well known expert on home security. He specializes in using the latest technology in hidden cameras, hidden camera detection and surveillance systems. He has been helping people defend their families and homes for a long time.

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Where To Get Jobs In Agencies?

On April 18, 2010, In business, By Adriana Noton

Anyone who has watched the news has seen how the job numbers are looking. Many people are searching but are not having luck. Temp agencies are available to help with this job market, and many people are flocking to these agencies jobs. There are these agencies as well as an array of there job agencies in existence.

The temp agencies have to find jobs for many, many different people who have an expertise or history in different fields. So, someone can find secretarial work or jobs like data analyst or a job in administration.

The first step in finding a job in these agencies is going to the office to see what they have available. Any questions can be directed to the staff as well. There is an application that needs to be filled out, and it will ask all pertinent questions like work background. The office will then try and do a search on jobs that best fits the applicant.

Temps agencies try searching for nannies jobs to meet a variety of needs for people from many different backgrounds as far as educational focus and work history. So, these offices are usually quite busy, and now, particularly the offices can be full on a daily basis, which is when the professional job nanny come in handy.

There is a separate type of agency that helps people find jobs in a specific area. One example will be explained, but this is probably true for other job positions. There is one specific job that many people find jobs through, and that is taking care of the elderly or possibly younger children who may be disabled. For the disabled children, the job would be more focused on assisting the parent in some way.

One type of credential that would be good for gaining employment in this field is an LVN. This is helpful because the people who need this type of care need some level of health care attention. They can give medications, take the vitals, and check the blood sugar of the elderly. The same goes for the young person who might be disabled in some way. These services can help parents who need help at home.

These companies do thorough searches to find qualified people for their positions. They are also very good companies to find good employment. Temp agencies do look for people who need immediate work, and it is usually a temporary position. However, those temporary positions might lead to more permanent jobs. As for the agencies looking for care workers, those can most likely be long-term, and hours can be flexible.

To find work in this economy, it good to go to temp agencies. Other agencies do exist as well for those with specified skills. To find an agency that provides these services, one needs to look online or look in the phonebook. The start includes filling out the application. They will usually contact the person when a good match is found. An interview process may occur with the prospective employer to further whittle down the choice of employee that they want. However, going through an agency may be more useful since the agency may be able to help with obtaining the positions.

This professional agency is committed to providing nanny job with the highest qualifications and standards. Our experienced nannies receive excellent compensation for their services, and they are also given extensive training to care for children with care.

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Teaching Math via “The Innovative Dr. Knowledge” Comic Book

On March 28, 2010, In business, By Matthew Smith

We are entering a new global economy…one in which our children will need to compete with other children around the world. In this digital age of massive distractions, such as video games and television, we have a lot of competing media for our children’s attention. To many children math is complicated and boring and too much like “work”. We needed a way to make learning math fun.

How about the vehicle of a comic book? For starters, comic books have stood the test of time. Long before the digital age of the 24 hour cartoon network, children would be huddled under their blankets, with comic book and flashlight in hand. A very visual learning tool, it is also portable, requiring no electricity or attachments or even, strange as it may sound these days, an internet connection.

Math Comic Strips has just released their flagship item! It is an educational math comic called “The Innovative Dr. Knowledge”. Dr. Knowledge is not a classic “Super Hero”…he is not from another planet and has not been bitten by an insect. Having said this, he does have some incredible math skills. He was able to acquire these skills by doing his math homework and studying other subjects over the years. He is able to utilize these skills by solving some incredible crimes and problems, and our hope is that children around the world will follow his adventures and become motivated to study into this world of math.

Bobby lost his mother at a young age, and had a rather difficult childhood in many respects. To make a long story short, his father decided to take him on a trip to help encourage and motivate his son. As fate would have it, he ended up on an island, and it was here that he embraced his love of math. Math helped him to solve many problems that the island presented him with, and through these adventures he was able to see the practical applications of math.

When he eventually made his way back to civilization, he pursued his math education on a more formal level eventually earning a PhD in Mathematics at a prestigious university. Using his math abilities he was able to acquire great wealth, and answer a calling in his life…to use math to solve crimes and problems and make the world a better place.

We hope that you will enjoy reading their flagship comic book, “The Innovative Dr. Knowledge”. We hope that you will join them in helping to promote math to our nation’s children. Who knows, math comic strips may never be the same…

Looking to find free math comics, then visit www.Math-Comic-Strips.com for the best in innovative math education.

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The Top Secrets About Giving

On February 16, 2010, In business, By Masami Sato

Here is the secret to get what one wants. It is just giving. The reasons for it are based on the well-known philosophical dictum “Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?” The egg, and the chicken that is born out of it, create the circle of life, and form the basis for a profound comparison for attaining and giving what one wants: the circle of joy. This brilliant concept is analyzed in the clear voice and lucid prose of Masami Sato, the author of the book named ONE.

As humans, most of us naturally have endless desires for all kinds of things. And of course, the traditional principals of economics tell us that while wants are unlimited, resources are limited. This induces us to think, the more and more resources we have, the more and more desires we will be able to fulfill. We become very protective of our resources. We then think sharing or giving these resources will reduce the portion that can be used to get what we want. This is the traditional win-lose game that is being played.

Is this true, then?

And if the answer is “no” what then? What if it actually goes against the secret of getting more? What if the secret to earn more is simple – just by managing to give more?

You can get something simply by giving. Just like you can have eggs by breeding chickens. Just like that. Natural. Automatic. And it’s an absolutely joyful experience.

First of all, let us begin with some analogy to explain things.

Chicken and Egg: the Cosmic Circle of Life

Many a philosopher has come out with this question from the beginning of time, “Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?”

The answer to this endless discussion is simple: It actually doesn’t matter because both chickens and eggs are here now. But if we want to have more great outcomes, we can choose to start somewhere.

Giving and Receiving: the Cycle of Joy

What happens, if we pose a different question? “Which comes first, giving or receiving?”

Again, for better results, we have to begin somewhere. Giving away things to others is definitely far simpler than attempting to get it first!

What happens when we try to get it first?

If we want to have something, naturally we try to get it. And we try to hold on to it after getting it. This is very natural to do-it makes sense intellectually.

But the actual upshot of ‘striving to get’ is often not profusion and actual long-term recompense.

For example, wanting to see others being happy is not about getting the joy from them or controlling them to become happy. It is about how much joy we can give them and share with them. Period.

So how do we begin to get what we desire?

From the other end of the circle – by giving generously!

When we are ready to give away first before we have even got what we hope for – what we are dreaming of – we are sending a strong message to ourselves which says, ‘there is enough, and more will come.’ It lets us feel the joy today – the joy of sharing.

All we need to do is give out the love in ample measures to others. It just returns to us. Giving love is the only way to be fully loved. When we acknowledge the greatness of others’ achievements, and their great qualities, again, that recognition comes back to us. They recognize us, because we are ready to recognize them.

In the same manner, if we want to have plenty in our life materially, financially, and mentally, we have to share in full measure with others, what we want.

Some would give more physically by giving their time. Some would give more financially by giving money away. The people who give more (time, money, kindness, love, ideas) have more of these things because that’s the balance. And balance is the natural law of life.

Just remember the rule of the game

Important rule: never give anything expecting a return.

When we have the expectation that giving should create ‘getting’ something back, we get upset when we don’t see the result coming back immediately to us. We may even hold unpleasant feelings towards the recipient of our gift. And clearly, holding a negative feeling for someone is not a pleasant or kind thing to do! So we can feel the real joy of giving when we’re doing something for others knowing that we’re simply doing it for ourselves-we’re doing it for our own joy!

Losing to win, giving to get..

It may initially feel like we are losing out. Yet at some level we know that getting without giving is not a sustainable life model. And we’ve known that from the very beginning. That’s why tithing has been such a natural part of the lives of many successful people. And they didn’t always do it publicly so it wasn’t done to gain a better reputation. It was just because that was the way it was.

Look around yourself. ‘Lesser’ creatures do it naturally. The bumblebees take the honey of the flowers and in return pollinate the flowers, thereby making them bloom. They do it in accordance with the laws of nature. They do not do it as a part of any law of justice. That is why they create permanence, without even making an attempt to do so.

Giving is just being who we are, it is just like having; not greater or lesser. No difficulty, no conditions attached, just releasing oneself.

The essence of getting more can be stated in two steps: Give first, and do not expect to get anything in return.

When we let go and give open-handedly, what we require would come to us. On its own.

Discover more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

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Turning Dreams Into Realities Is As Easy As Brushing Our Teeth

On February 16, 2010, In business, By Masami Sato

Can’t making dreams come true be just as easy? Can’t we free ourselves of our doubts? Is it not possible? How can we do it in a way so that it looks as easy as brushing our teeth? This is an excerpt form the book named ONE by Masami Sato and it shows how it can be done step-by-step, getting one ready to start walking towards one’s dreams today.

We all have dreams. But not all of us have the faith in ourselves, that we can have and live those dreams in our lifetime. Actually, the secret to have such certainty is simple. And the reason why we doubt it so much is also straightforward.

Let us start with the first question that can be asked to us..

Why do we not do the things we want to do?

Often, our thinking stops our actions. Often the more we think about it, the less we usually are committed to achieve what we originally wanted to do. Often the more we think about something, we come up with a greater number of reasons for not doing it.

Then is it possible to be certain that we will definitely accomplish what we want to do in our life?

Sure, absolutely! To start with, let us look at the power of habits

If we are scheduled to go to a meeting tomorrow night, we wouldn’t spend lots of time thinking whether we can get there or not. We wouldn’t be concerned about the chance of having a car accident and missing the appointment. Just like when we are walking to the bathroom, we wouldn’t worry that the toilet might be broken!

We are always more assured about these day-to-day activities that happen every day. These are the habits.

However, we doubt our dreams

Interestingly, there are so many things we are not so sure about. Especially the things we really want to do in our life – our Dreams!

So, what is the secret for the assurance that we will realize our dreams?

First: Simply make it a daily habit!

We can begin with being more assured about our actions to fulfil our desires – the type of dreams that really nurtures our life.

So, for example, if your dream is to give and contribute to society and giving is a key desire in your life, there is no reason to doubt that it’s possible for you to contribute to others. It can just become one of your daily habits.

Second: Make it as important (and as easy) as brushing our teeth

Making a dream come true can be just like cleaning the teeth. It gives a very uncomfortable feeling if teeth are not brushed for a long time, isn’t it? Nobody spends hours thinking which brand of toothpaste to use or postpone brushing till there is some specific need to show clean teeth. We feel ill at ease with teeth that are not clean. So we just clean them. It is as simple as that.

Looking at our example, if giving is what we desire most, then we should ask ourselves a few questions: What if giving is truly as important as brushing one’s teeth? What if it is giving us a comfortable feeling? What if it aids in remaining healthy?

No matter whether we have a lot or very little just now, we can definitely start giving it and sharing it with others today. No matter how seemingly unbelievable it is to fulfil our dreams, we can start proceeding towards them today. We should view it as something crucial, a priority issue that we should practice every day! Then we would feel unhappy if we don’t do it. Just like brushing our teeth.

and Third: Give first, then we will get

When we start giving before we even have what we hope to get – that which we dream of – we are sending out a powerful message to ourselves which tells us, ‘there is enough, and more will come.’ It allows us to feel the joy today – the joy of giving.

If you want to be rich, be generous. And you’ll be blessed with abundance. If you want to be superbly intelligent, don’t be afraid to teach others. And you’ll know more. If you want to give, just give selflessly. Do not attach any expectation of return. Just let go. And joy will automatically be rewarded to you. The simple joy of giving.

So do not be hesitant to dole out and share what you have, for it will not prevent you from achieving your purpose, whatever it is. It will only help you to realise your dreams more easily. And your journey through that path would be full of joy.

But are not habits very small, when compared to our BIG dreams?

Just do it, don’t worry about the ‘scale’

Anything can happen in life. Things may develop in a small way. And these small things might take us to another action, and that will connect to another. The sureness we feel about our actions, and managing them one by one, keeps on taking us forward. But if we think that it is not possible to do something now, just because it is a little formidable, it simply will not happen.

The secret of achieving one’s dreams has always been there, and it will always be there. Those who are winners, who have inspired others, and have known perfect joy, have realized this. They are continuously using it.

Dreams and marvels are not accidents. We make them through our options.

So, would you probably start going towards your dreams today?

Contents are excerpted with minor modification from ONE, a book written by Masami Sato. To get a free copy of ONE, visit www.B1G1.com and start sharing the joy of giving. Feel free to use or republish the content of the above article, fully or partially, as long as it is preserved in its original content, with proper attribution to Masami Sato and www.B1G1.com.

Find out more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

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Life-Changing Quotes In ONE Book: Solving The Mystery Of Life

On January 27, 2010, In business, By Masami Sato

Part One of Three

This collection of beautiful quotes that will inspire you to awaken your curiosity about the mystery of life is excerpted from “ONE”, a book by Masami Sato, the founder of Buy1GIVE which is a global giving organisation sharing the joy of giving. The quotes in this first edition include topics that are profoundly related to our everyday lives, such as mystery, judgment and connection. This article is the first part of the 3 “ONE Book Life-Changing Quotes Series”.

On transforming judgment

“Judgment often has very little relation to reality.”

“Actions and words don’t always accurately reflect who we are. Every single one of us has had the experience of wanting to undo what we did or said.”

On the mystery of life

“It’s very, very clear that we don’t need to know all of the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of life to keep living on this planet.”

“There are so many things we don’t understand in life. In spite of that lack of understanding though, we often enjoy experiencing those things.”

“Seeing is important but trying to figure out everything isn’t necessary.”

“The scientists are not here to reveal the ‘truth’ because we are here to seek it forever. They are actually here to complicate the game (of life) so that we can have more questions and enjoy the game longer.”

Connection

“Connection is the core of everything. That’s what life is. Connection.”

“Every single thing we do is to satisfy the need for connection.”

“We cannot feel unhappy when we are feeling totally connected. It’s impossible!”

“We are designed to constantly seek ways to connect to each other and to a greater purpose.”

“‘solutions’ coming from fear and doubt may not be the most effective ways. We end up feeling more and more disconnected from each other.”

“We can only truly celebrate the victory with others when we win together. Then we feel connected.”

“This is the game called ONE. The aim of the game is to ‘connect’! We keep connecting until we all become ONE.

Find out more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

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Step aside old BOGO and meet the new BOGO

On January 22, 2010, In business, By David Anttony

Definitions of words often change quite quickly these days. In the distant past the meaning of words was often set in stone. Today the meaning can change in a blink. With new faster ways to communicate with wider and more culturally, socially and education

There is a growing significant movement happening global where consumers are asking businesses to look after the things they care about such as the environment and the less fortunate in society. The request is still mainly tacit and despite it being an ironic request it still signals we are in a time of great change. Consumers these days want their ‘toys’ but they don’t want the environment to be destroyed in the creation of these. They want cheap products but they do not want workers to be paid a pittance to create the cheap products.

There may not seem an answer to this complex puzzle and yet one actually exists. It exists in the reforging of a simple single word – GET. Today there is a new movement of people wanting to get but give at the same time and they are reforging its meaning into the word GIVE.

Every day automated email notices arrive from Google Alerts for two keywords – B1G1 and BOGO. I see all the new places these words are being used on the Internet. I can now see that the new meaning of these words is coming alive ‘poco a poco’ -little by little.

The B1G1 and BOGO acronyms both stand for Buy One GET One free. You buy one and you get given an extra one for free.

If you look on Wikipedia you will find these definitions for BOGO (there isn’t a definition yet for B1G1 – there will be soon when I write one!):

* An acronym in the retail industry that stands for Buy One Get One. For example, you could say “Buy 1 DVD, Get 1 FREE!

* An acronym in slang British that stands for Britons Of Greek Origin or Greek Britons.

* Bogo, Cebu, a city in central Philippines.

* Norway, a village in Norway.

* An alternate name for the Bilen ethnic group of Ethiopia or their language, Blin.

* The mascot of the ITESM CEM.

* BogoMips, an unscientific measurement of CPU speed

* Bogosort, an ineffective sorting algorithm

BOGO Lights – torches that give

There’s an entrepreneurial business in the USA called SunLight Solar which was founded by Mark Bent. They’ve created a special torch that’s not only an amazing and sturdy solar-powered light; his company also gives a free torch to that in need in developing countries every time one is sold. If you look up their website you will learn more about their “BOGO light”.

“The BoGo – our Buy one/Give one – program has successfully provided lights to many, many thousands of people in the developing world, changing lives because of your purchase and participation.” – BOGOlight.com

Mark Bent has flipped the BOGO acronym upside down when he started to use the word as part of his product name. For him now and the thousands who buy his lights, BOGO today means Buy One GIVE One. Each person gets to give a light every time they buy one for themselves. So now with each sale people who do not have the benefit of electricity can tap the power of the sun to support them in their lives.

There are many other well known and less well know businesses now doing Buy One Give One giving or transaction based giving as it is becoming known. Some of the famous ones are One Laptop Per Child and TOMS Shoes. Some of the less well-known ones (in the USA at least) are based in Australia, New Zealand and the UK – Maple Muesli, Blinds Couture, Earthstar Publishing, Figure 8 Body Chains, Honestly Women magazine, Sunsplash Homes and Thavibu Gallery based in Thailand are just a few special businesses that are leading the Buy One Give One movement in their parts of the world.

Many Buy One Give One businesses are coming together under the single brand banner of Buy1GIVE1; a Singaporean based social enterprise which is becoming the home of transaction based giving. Any business can now choose to be part of Buy One Give One giving with ease. It’s like a CSR ‘plug-in’ to allow a business to start giving from each and every sale today – starting from just one cent. It is now not even a matter of giving an equivalent product to someone else. Instead it is about giving to a charity project that is in resonance with a company’s business activity. For example a magazine publisher cannot support the planting of a tree every time they sell a subscription, a restaurant can feed a child for each meal sold, a TV store can gift a cataract blind person with the gift of sight (Get Vision-Give Vision), and a builder or property developer can build a budget home for those in need who have lost their homes in a disaster (Buy1BUILD1) – the list is only limited by imagination.

The stats now add up saying consumers do care. The 2008 Goodpurpose global study of consumer attitudes revealed that nearly a huge 68% of consumers would remain dedicated to a brand during an economic slump if it supported a charity cause. This study also highlighted some other key points as well such as:

* Half (52%) of consumers globally are more likely to recommend a brand to others when it supports a good charity cause over one that does not.

* and 54% would champion a brand to promote a product if there was a good cause behind it.

* Globally consumers are voicing a distinct desire for marketers to associate their brands to social causes. Forty-two percent say that if two products or services are of a similar quality and price, commitment to a cause trumps factors like innovation, design and brand loyalty when selecting one brand over another.

Turning Getting into Giving

In the minds of consumers, Buy One GIVE One is expected to replace Buy One GET One as the new global giving movement led by Buy1GIVE1 spreads. Certainly with the massive sales results and consumer demand shown for companies like BOGOlights, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) and TOMS Shoes, this tide will continue to spread and grow.

I did a recent Google search to find the 25 top key words associated with the keyword BOGO. The results were very interesting in that none of them currently contained the word Give. I have displayed the results below. It will be interested to repeat this test in twelve months time and see what changes. Consumers are starting to drive major change and despite still wanting to receive free gifts (as in traditional B1G1/BOGO), they equally want to help others and the environment. This sentiment is validated by the 2008 Goodpurpose global study.

Here are the search results:

Free, networking, boots, groups, music, dallas, togo themes, wallpapers, buy, applications, skins, values, coupon, African, gift, photography, blogging, discount, sharing, shopping, pics, join, prose

Transaction-based or transactional giving

Buy One Give One giving is transactional – every time you buy something, you give something. In the case of SunNight Solar, TOMS Shoes and OLPC they happen to give physical products of the same nature for everyone sold. However, in most cases, Buy1GIVE1 associated businesses give a charitable contribution from each sale. Giving can start from just a one-cent contribution per sales transaction and go up to thousands of dollars in the case of Buy1BUILD1. At 1cent any business in the world can afford to give from each sale especially when they also know 100% of the contribution goes to the cause.

The amount of money that is contributed isn’t the focus with Buy1GIVE1 transaction based giving. The focus instead is on the story and sharing the simple joy of giving. After all, if you think that 1c isn’t a lot to give and would not make much of a difference think again.

From its origins in Ethiopia, where the main coffee production is still from wild coffee tree forests, coffee consumption has spread throughout the world. Today Brazil is still by far the largest producer producing an average output of 28% of the world’s total coffee. Brazil produced enough coffee in 2006 to make 216 billion four hundred million – 216 400 000 000 – espresso coffees. If we calculate that across global production then we get a daily global consumption of around 2,117,416,830 cups of coffee. The figures are hard to find but let’s guess that 40% of the world’s coffee is sold in coffee shops then we would get that 846,966,732 cups are sold commercially each day globally. This would equate to about’5,485,714 cups in the USA alone seeing they purchase around 21.9% of the world’s coffee beans.

Imagine now that for every cup of coffee sold a child in a developing region like Africa received drinking water from its own well and it costing only one US cent per person per day. Now any coffee shop could afford to contribute this amount from the sale of a single cup of coffee because it has a high profit margin sale. Imagine the different that this alone would make in the world.

Transactional giving is the story of the thousand-mile journey starting with that first single step. Digging a well costs a few thousand dollars so it’s a big barrier for communities in developing nations. However if you break the cost down it only takes the sale of a cup of coffee to give clean water to a single person for a day1. This is the power of transactional giving. It is like the compound interest of giving – a little turns into a lot very quickly.

Of course any company anywhere in the world can apply transaction-based giving to any of their products or services and do it on their own as some are like TESCO in the UK giving school uniforms to kids in Africa from every uniform purchased in the UK. And yet if companies choose to come together under a commonly recognised banner they have a greater effect. The ripple that one company creates adds to that of another and soon the tidal wave of change flows out into the world benefitting all the companies in the movement. This is the power of giving and doing things together.

Everyone wins with Buy One Give One transaction based giving. The consumer wins – at no extra cost to themselves they have made a difference through their purchasing choices. The business wins in so many ways. And of course the charity cause wins because they are now able to receive small amounts from numerous sources aggregated and paid in a lump sum by Buy1GIVE1.

A new beginning

If you go and check Wikipedia.com today for the word BOGO you should find that a new definition has been added. It’s time for a tide-change – a change from focusing on GETTING to working with GIVING. I added this small addition to Wikipedia’s BOGO definition: “… an acronym in the marketing industry that stands for Buy One GIVE One.”

Simply imagine our world where every time you go and buy something you give something automatically and seamlessly – giving a gift forward to someone in greater need than you. This is the simple joyful magic of transactional giving.

This is the world I choose to be a part of.

And remember – you don’t ‘get’ giving till you get giving.

References:

http://www.buy1-give1free.com/index.php/Partnering/Worthy-cause-charity-projects.html

http://www.goodpurposecommunity.com/

http://www.scfnw.org.uk/site/article183.html

http://www.scfnw.org.uk/site/article183.html

http://www.scfnw.org.uk/site/article183.html

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee

http://www.coffeepoet.com/2007/09/

Footnotes: 1 The daily cost for clean well water per person is calculated by taking the average cost to dig a well then dividing that amount by its average expected life without major maintenance then divided it by the number of people in the community benefiting from the well on a daily basis.

Find out more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

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