One of the B.C. non-profits that previously has sold donations to Value Village opened its own store in the middle of last year. The Nanaimo branch of Big Brother and Big Sisters has opened the BIG Deals Clothing Program store at its 2030 Northfield Road location, open We-Sa 10-15. The Boston, U.S.A. chapter realised a 4x revenue gain when it terminated its relationship with Value Village and began to operate its own store(s), despite added operating expenses. I hope the other BC and national chapters of BB&BS and other charities will find the gumption and vision to do the same.
http://www.bigscvi.ca/en/Home/big-deals-clothing-program.aspx
Showing posts with label value village. Show all posts
Showing posts with label value village. Show all posts
Thursday, 13 April 2017
Saturday, 8 October 2016
Why not Value Village?
It would seem that the first name that comes to mind of thrift shoppers is Value Village. I don't mention this organisation for one reason: They are a deceitful outfit run as a for-profit.
One would think, with association of various charities, that Value Village is a charity.
Far from it. Value Village, through it's U.S.-based parents Savers, Inc. is owned by U.S.-based private equity funds (can you say "1%er"?)
As a private company, its charitable donations don't have to be disclosed. From what journalists have been able to discern from employees, it is only in the piddling thousands. It's primary mission is to make money for its investors, not to make charitable donations. The only way charities seem to benefit is to sell their collections to the various Savers outlets who pay a pittance per pound, and this appears to exclude heavy items such as furniture.
Savers has been fined by the Minnesota Attorney General for misleading the public over its charitable intent (or lack thereof) and also had to be cajoled by the Washington Attorney General to provide information (it provides the bare minimum information after not providing anything for a quarter century). What little information they do provide is hidden behind a veil of obfuscation.
The Boston-area Big Brothers dropped its partnership with Savers and found that by operating its own stores (even with associated expenses), it increased its income from donations by 3-4x. Reportedly over 6 of the charities that have worked with Savers have dropped the partnership.
By giving your donations to Value Village, you're providing free inventory to Savers, Inc. Talk about entitlement.
Please give your donations to a real charity.
See:
http://invw.org/2015/10/28/the-thrift-store-chain-that-dressed-up-like-a-charity-and-got-sued/
Of course, all the profits have spawned imitators. A home-grown version called Talize, based in Ontario, has just opened a store in Delta
One would think, with association of various charities, that Value Village is a charity.
Far from it. Value Village, through it's U.S.-based parents Savers, Inc. is owned by U.S.-based private equity funds (can you say "1%er"?)
As a private company, its charitable donations don't have to be disclosed. From what journalists have been able to discern from employees, it is only in the piddling thousands. It's primary mission is to make money for its investors, not to make charitable donations. The only way charities seem to benefit is to sell their collections to the various Savers outlets who pay a pittance per pound, and this appears to exclude heavy items such as furniture.
Savers has been fined by the Minnesota Attorney General for misleading the public over its charitable intent (or lack thereof) and also had to be cajoled by the Washington Attorney General to provide information (it provides the bare minimum information after not providing anything for a quarter century). What little information they do provide is hidden behind a veil of obfuscation.
The Boston-area Big Brothers dropped its partnership with Savers and found that by operating its own stores (even with associated expenses), it increased its income from donations by 3-4x. Reportedly over 6 of the charities that have worked with Savers have dropped the partnership.
By giving your donations to Value Village, you're providing free inventory to Savers, Inc. Talk about entitlement.
Please give your donations to a real charity.
See:
http://invw.org/2015/10/28/the-thrift-store-chain-that-dressed-up-like-a-charity-and-got-sued/
Of course, all the profits have spawned imitators. A home-grown version called Talize, based in Ontario, has just opened a store in Delta
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