BetterWorldBooks Donation bins in Jacksonville and Florida in general.

[If_I_Loved_you]

I was out in Orange Park Florida off of Blanding Blvd when I saw this green and white bin? I turned around and drove into Bolton Plaza. I made my way up to Blanding Blvd when I stopped I was looking at this bin that said BetterWorldBooks Donate your Books here. this isn't the bin I saw but it looks like this http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yH7k-7oEhd4/TvJn23ehBvI/AAAAAAAAAHY/to6MvcdUY0A/s1600/betterworldbooks2.jpg When I got back home I pulled up their site to see how many places around town do they have these donation boxes http://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/donate-fl  this really is a great idea "founded in 2002 by three friends from the University of Notre Dame who started selling textbooks online to earn some money, and ended up forming a pioneering social enterprise â€" a business with a mission to promote literacy." 

[simms3]

Interesting company.  Georgia Tech's business school is heavily "start-up" focused with an emphasis on tech/IT, VC finance, and operations/management.  In one of my classes the founder/CEO, David Murphy, gave a presentation and I was able to meet him afterwards.  Part of a growing "triple bottom line" oriented "B-Corp" classification that aims to make a profit and provide societal or cultural benefits simultaneously (like a non-profit that's actually for-profit/taxed).  BWB bins are *all over* Atlanta and are temporarily on all of the university campuses at the end of each semester.  It's definitely a noteworthy cause that is still making people some decent money.  It sells most of its books at greatly reduced prices and donates a certain portion (I guess like a nationwide mobile Chamblin's with a much larger operating platform which includes online sales and a charitable component).  The Kiva founder also came and spoke in this particular class.

[ronchamblin]

Funny you mention the BWB donation program because I’ve just recently decided to donate our entire stock to this wonderful program wherein the world is made better in so many ways.  Below is just a sample of what is accomplished……….. from their site:

"From the idea of one small book drive to making a global impact on literacy, we're proud of our humble beginnings and desire to make a worldwide difference."

"We generate funding for leading literacy initiatives around the world. Our partners build schools, start libraries, train teachers and provide scholarships."

"We've re-used or recycled over 80 million pounds of books and raised over $10 million for global literacy and local libraries. Every book you buy or donate expands our collective impact."

"Every purchase on BetterWorldBooks.com helps fund world literacy - and so does every book donated!"

"As a "social enterprise", social and environmental impact is built into the core of our business. We only do well by doing good."

In any case, I think it is wonderful to have such a giving and helpful social enterprise such as this.  Because I have full confidence that the entire operation is legitimate, and that there is no hint of any scamming going on, I’ve decided to give our entire book inventory to this wonderful enterprise.

Both of our retail stores will be closing at the end of January 2013 so that we can devote all of our time scouring for books for donation to this for-profit enterprise.  I’m so excited about this opportunity to do good for others by donating books….. well….. I’m just overwhelmed.     



   
 

[If_I_Loved_you]

Interesting company.  Georgia Tech's business school is heavily "start-up" focused with an emphasis on tech/IT, VC finance, and operations/management.  In one of my classes the founder/CEO, David Murphy, gave a presentation and I was able to meet him afterwards.  Part of a growing "triple bottom line" oriented "B-Corp" classification that aims to make a profit and provide societal or cultural benefits simultaneously (like a non-profit that's actually for-profit/taxed).  BWB bins are *all over* Atlanta and are temporarily on all of the university campuses at the end of each semester.  It's definitely a noteworthy cause that is still making people some decent money.  It sells most of its books at greatly reduced prices and donates a certain portion (I guess like a nationwide mobile Chamblin's with a much larger operating platform which includes online sales and a charitable component).  The Kiva founder also came and spoke in this particular class.

Great Info Thanks simms3 I know of a store in Lake Park, Ga. called the "Book Warehouse" and they give a lot of money to Emory Univ. I thought this was a scam until I called emory and found out it wasn't. http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110797/2a1holla.html

[Charles Hunter]

Chamblin's closing?!?  No!

[If_I_Loved_you]

Inside the Better World Books Warehouse  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Sm44wI-ec

[If_I_Loved_you]

Why is your Company a For-Profit instead of a Non-Profit?

At times, people wonder about the for-profit nature of our social enterprise. It is understandable that people question the motives of for-profit corporations when many mainstream corporations have failed society so dramatically in recent years. In our case, we simply view it as the most effective model for spreading global literacy. It enables us to accept investment, to attract top talent through offering stock options, and to operate free of the funding cycles and restrictive grants most non-profits face - all of which enable us to grow the business and therefore grow our positive social impact more quickly.
http://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/dropbox-faq

[If_I_Loved_you]

http://vimeo.com/24523713

[ben says]

I think Ron is being sarcastic.

I hope Ron is being sarcastic.

[Tacachale]

Yes, I think it's pretty clear that Ron is being sarcastic about this company's business model.

[mbwright]

Well, you have to do something with the brand new textbook you bought 3 months ago for $150 that is now worthless, since there is a new edition.  It is amazing how much college algebra has changed, and at such a fast pace, just like english, biology for non-majors, and many more.

[simms3]

^^^There's algebra in college?

Ron: sour much?  Show a little faith in a trio of Mendoza grads!  Most start-ups don't last anyway and have a cost of capital that would put most people in shock.  Their business is ancient in the world of small/risky start ups, and yet their business model is arguably riskier than most start-ups, being that they have a charitable component that incurs taxes.

Here's ALL I have to say: Props to them.  Their model is a glimpse into a large part of the future of business.  B-Corp is real and growing.

[If_I_Loved_you]

^^^There's algebra in college?

Ron: sour much?  Show a little faith in a trio of Mendoza grads!  Most start-ups don't last anyway and have a cost of capital that would put most people in shock.  Their business is ancient in the world of small/risky start ups, and yet their business model is arguably riskier than most start-ups, being that they have a charitable component that incurs taxes.

Here's ALL I have to say: Props to them.  Their model is a glimpse into a large part of the future of business.  B-Corp is real and growing.

Well Spoken!

[If_I_Loved_you]

I think Ron is being sarcastic.

I hope Ron is being sarcastic.

People say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit… And that comes from the people who don’t understand it.

[ronchamblin]

My post was meant more to be facetious, and not meant to be sarcastic.  I received a card today from a long time customer concerning the rumor that we were closing.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I had assumed my wording would allow readers to understand the facetious nature regarding the bins for "donations". 

But no, we are not closing.  Thank goodness our locatons are doing quite well, as I need to keep my 22 employess working and paid.  Given that thousands of used/rare bookstores have gone down in the U. S. as a result of things like the Internet environment, the cancerous Amazon, the new breed of homegrown booksellers, and the new donations bins, I can only assume that we are doing enough right so that we survive and prosper.  I really think our success is due to one single fact, which has to do with the unique quality of my personality.