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(To be truthful, we still have cookbooks on hand, but we went ahead and made the full donation the year the house was built.) SELLING GOODS THAT DO GOOD Many years ago, we started selling UNICEF cards at Christmas, with 100 percent of the sales benefiting the United Nations Childrens Fund. Obviously we lost some sales of our regular boxed Christmas cards to those buying UNICEF cards, but we felt strongly about supporting this cause. Today many of our most popular lines of Christmas cards and calendars are published by nonprofit organizations such as the Sierra Club, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Audubon Societyand we earn full markup on the merchandise. We still feature UNICEF cards, of course, but carrying these other lines is a painless way to support other worthwhile causes and to allow our customers to feel good about their purchases. Many of our other suppliers have selected a charity to work with and are pledging a percentage of sales on certain items to these organizations. The amount of money that ends up being donated is generally kept confidential, but in the case of companies like Department 56 and Enesco, both suppliers of collectibles, gifts, and seasonal items, their corporate donations are in the millions. The amount of money that ends up being donated is generally kept confidential, but in the case of companies like Department 56 and Enesco, both suppliers of collectibles, gifts, and seasonal items, their corporate donations are in the millions. Antique shops, vintage clothing stores, and even baseball card dealers keep products flowing back through the economy rather than creating new goods. But those that must Environmentally Sound Retailing 291 purchase new goods to sell can still give consideration to the ultimate disposition of these products once the consumer tires of them. Carmens, a ladies specialty store known as The Coat Store of Madison, sponsored a charity coat event for more than twenty-five years. Customers received an allowance of up to $30 toward a new coat for every coat that was brought in. Thousands of good used coats were cleaned and repaired at Carmens expense and given to those in need. Where Will Your Merchandise Go? Countries such as Germany and Japan are starting to insist that manufacturers plan for the disposal of a product, or at least its packaging, when they manufacture it. Where Will Your Merchandise Go? Countries such as Germany and Japan are starting to insist that manufacturers plan for the disposal of a product, or at least its packaging, when they manufacture it. If your operation could offer some challenging work to high school students, call your nearest high school for details about this program. Work-study students sometimes continue in their jobs after graduating, so this could be a source of future employees. There may also be a program in retailing at the high school, running the school store, or the concessions at sports events that could use your help as an outside adviser. Consider sponsorCommunity Leadership 299 ing an entrepreneur club after school, encouraging students to learn about small business and free enterprise. Their math and reading skills, as well as their self-confidence, will benefit from starting and running their own business projects. High schools and middle schools are always looking for incentives to motivate students to come to school, stay in school, and do well academically. High schools and middle schools are always looking for incentives to motivate students to come to school, stay in school, and do well academically. You can choose to use that position to help the entire community, as Gift Gallery/Northridge Pharmacy of southern California did. When the town was devastated by an earthquake in 1994, the owners turned their shop into a rallying point for the community. They set up a first aid station and provided replacements for critically needed prescriptions for all customers at cost. Those who could not pay were given them for free. As the community started to recover, the pharmacy put up a mural in place of its broken windows, encouraging other businesses to stay and rebuild. 300 Good Works Are Good Business Your store can serve as a focal point for a special interest group such as writers, feminists, runners, or even model train buffs. 300 Good Works Are Good Business Your store can serve as a focal point for a special interest group such as writers, feminists, runners, or even model train buffs. The Rewards of Giving 301 There are many ways your payroll dollars can be used to help those in need. GIVING TIME If your shop decides to support a particular cause, your staff may want to be involved. The best way to ensure their participation is to have staff members participate in the decision about what charity to support, but involvement beyond duties directly related to the shop should always be optional. Employees may already have projects of their ownor may not share your enthusiasm for the one you select. Adopting a cause can be a good way to build team spirit among staff members. One year we bought gifts for a large family in the rural South through the Box Project, a nonprofit organization that assigns donors to a specific family in need. One year we bought gifts for a large family in the rural South through the Box Project, a nonprofit organization that assigns donors to a specific family in need. News.