Social Responsibility Makes Good Business Sense
01/02/2008 - By Ryan Bridge As a small business owner, deciding to join The Child Smile Network as a Network Partner makes good business sense. Read some of the many reasons why.
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Social Responsibility Makes Good Business Sense
Since our inception The Child Smile Network has concentrated on creating win/win/win solutions for charitable organizations, the general public and small business owners. Our program is designed to create synergies in which everyone benefits and a meaningful way.
Our win/win/win approach is quite simple:
Win #1
Charities, nonprofits, community organizations, educational groups, sports teams and other non-commercial groups sell Child Smile Network membership cards within their local community to raise funds to support their programs/mission. 50% of the selling price of each card sold is retained by the selling organization. This simple concept requires no upfront costs or commitments and provides the organization with a means to raise thousands of dollars for their program/mission.
In addition to the funds that go directly to the selling organization to support their programs, a portion of the proceeds from each card sold goes directly to The Child Smile Canadian Children’s Fund. This trust fund, maintained at arms length by a 3rd party, makes donations and gifts to national and regional charities and programs as determined by a Board of Trustees made up of Child Smile Network Partners and members.
Win #2
The purchasers of the card, now known as members, will use their card while purchasing goods or services from participating businesses in The Child Smile Network. Members will receive discounts or incentives from the business by simply presenting their membership card at the time of purchase. The member’s purchase of a Child Smile Network membership card will quickly pay for itself in savings while providing the member with the knowledge that they have supported a charitable program that has touched them or their family in some way.
Win #3
Becoming a Network Partner in The Child Smile Network makes good business sense for businesses of all kinds. A partnership with The Child Smile Network provides your business with numerous benefits, both monetary and non-monetary, including:
1. Visibility. In-store, web and print recognition for your business demonstrating your association with a National program that is helping children and organizations both within your local community and across the country. Network Partner signage showing your customers and your local community that you run a caring and socially responsible business. Your listing on The Child Smile Network online directory allows members to find out more about your business and your products and services.
Numerous studies have shown that customers recognize and reward businesses that are viewed as being socially conscious and community focused.
• When price and quality are perceived as equal, 76% of consumers would switch to a retail outlet associated with a good cause (Cone/Roper Cause related marketing trends).
• 89% of consumers are more likely to buy a product that benefits a cause (Business in the Community Survey)
• 86% of consumers have a more positive image of a company they see doing something to make the world a better place (Community Winning Game consumer survey)
2. Flexibility. The Child Smile Network offers your business the fullest degree of flexibility to suit the unique characteristics of your business.
• You alone determine what discounts or incentives you offer to reward Child Smile Network members for purchasing goods or services from your business. Incentives can range from a percentage off the total purchase price, buy 1 get the 2nd free type offers, free or discounted ancillary services, special member only discounts or even free upgrades. You know your business and you know your customers so the decision on the amount or type of reward is entirely yours to make.
• Members locate your business on The Child Smile Network online directory which offers a wide range of options to help Customers find your business and learn more about the products and services that you offer. Your listing on our directory is the first point of contact for most members that are searching for a business in your area or specialty in which to make a purchase. We allow you full control over the information and positioning of your listing within the directory. You control the information published, the promotional package that you use (starting for free) and can edit the incentive offered or any information at any time.
• Invite more members to your business with banner advertising, member only coupons or other tools available from Child Smile Marketing Services Inc. To learn more, simply give us a call at 905-689-7828.
3. Social Responsibility. Supporting The Child Smile Network and the many charitable, not-for-profit, community service and school/sports organizations it supports is quite simply the right thing to do.
Research has clearly shown that most consumers strongly support the work of charitable programs:
• 90% of Canadians believe that charities are becoming increasingly important (Canadian Centre for Philanthropy)
• 75% of Canadian men and 81% of Canadian women supported charities in the year 2000.
• 79% say donating money through a foundation or not-for-profit organization is the most effective way to win consumer loyalty. (Cone/Roper Report)
• 86% of consumers say that a company’s commitment to a social issue is important when deciding which products or services to recommend to other people. (Cone Corporate Citizenship Study)
When you consider that your business can join The Child Smile Network for absolutely no cost (for a basic listing package), the decision to join our growing network of caring and socially responsible businesses should be very simple. You can simply register your business online at: http://www.childsmile.com/advertise.php or select Advertise at the bottom of any page, it takes just a few minutes and you will be up and running as a Network Partner in one of the fastest growing cause related marketing programs in the country.
If you have any questions, please give us a call at 905-689-7828 and we’ll be glad to help you out.
