AGAINST THE
GRAIN
by Dwayne Thompson
Community Connections
They say charity starts at home; well sometimes it starts in the home office as well. Businesses all over the country are affected by the poor economic environment we are currently experiencing in this country. There are more families in need of support from our local, state and federal government than ever before. Ironically, our business community is feeling the effects of poor retail sales and low consumer confidence. The silver lining in this dark cloud is that the hair care industry has remained virtually untouched even by the lack of jobs and poor economic outlook. People are still grooming themselves for job interviews, special events, dating and business meetings. The caveat here is there are opportunities available for small and medium size businesses to get involved with programs that directly affect the local community in which they conduct business.
To make this even more relevant to the beauty supply industry, there must be a local charity that your company can connect with to offer a helping hand to those in dire need of your support. There are back to school programs, homeless shelters, women support groups and elderly programs that can use the influx of products, funding, or sweat equity. Take some time to speak with your local chamber of commerce or city council members to find credible programs or charities to engage. Avoid over the counter solicitation, as many times they may be unregistered charities. Keep up the good work!