I love New England. I grew up on the absolute southern edge of the region, but I’ve spent a lot of time enjoying the natural resources in all six of its states (mostly through fly fishing). One thing that is interesting about New England is that the areas surrounding some of its most sensitive ecosystems are quite populated. That means that they’re constantly being infringed upon. Conservation Law Foundation is a Boston, MA based non-profit that believes “that healthy communities and a clean environment are a right for all New Englanders, not a privilege for the few.” Since 1966 they have used a combination of scientific research, business/market forces, and legal work to protect “all parts of New England’s environment, including everything from oceans to river to mountains, from parks to forests, from big cities to small towns, from Maine to Rhode Island.”
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Every business has to make a decision about what kind of payments they’ll accept. Some take cash only, many accept credit cards, and some even accept local currencies like Ithaca Hours. Typically, making it easy for customers to pay you is a good business decision (unless you’re one of those scummy companies that loves to tack on late fees). Unfortunately for some businesses, accepting payments isn’t always easy. This is especially true for certain industries like online gaming, dating, and rewards. Paymentwall is a San Francisco, CA based company that offers “the leading digital payments platform for globally monetizing digital goods and services.” They offer payment options for over 100 locations in more than 25 languages (and offices in Berlin, Kiev, Istanbul, and Manila) with options including “credit card, debit card, mobile payments, land-line payments, prepaid cards, ATM, terminal transactions, bank transfers, direct bills” and more.
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Who watched the season finale of Million Dollar Listing New York last night? I did. I love that show, even though it seems to be more about petty squabbling than actually selling real estate. My biggest takeaway from the show is that selling a property is all about generating interest and getting people in the door to see it. If a realtor can do that, they’ll sell properties. However, most agents can’t throw open bar parties with half dressed models to attract attention–that kind of marketing only makes sense with multi-million dollar properties and six figure commissions. The average realtor needs a more affordable, simpler way to market properties. That’s exactly what BoomTown offers. They’re a Charleston, SC based software company that “has generated millions of leads for real estate teams.” 4,329,036 leads to be exact. They do this by offering “a complete online system that leads more Internet home buyers to [an agent’s] virtual door, then gives real estate agents proven tools to turn clicks into closings.”
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I find Flo from Progressive pretty irritating, but I think that’s kind of the point. The car insurance business is all about branding, and that means getting a name to stick in your head. The fact that you probably know who Flo is is proof enough that brand advertising works even if it’s annoying (though I know some of you are screaming, “But it doesn’t affect which company I buy my insurance from!”). While big brands often have big advertising budgets, they need an exceptional agency to generate a strong ROI on those budgets. I’d say that Arnold Worldwide is an exceptional agency. Not only is the Boston, MA based agency behind Progressive’s Flo campaign, but they also have done work for Jack Daniels, New Balance, Surfrider Foundation, and Volvo. Clients like those demand great work, and that’s exactly what Arnold Worldwide has produced for them.
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When I first heard Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop,” I knew it was going to be a massive hit (it probably already was, and I was just late). I’m no pop music genius, but how can a song with such a ridiculous beat and hilarious lyrics not succeed? While I don’t know this for sure, I have to imagine the song, which ended up at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, has to have meaningfully improved the thrift store business. Now I had always associated thrift stores with non-profits, but today I learned that isn’t always the case. Take Savers for example. They’re a Bellevue, WA based chain of retail locations that aims to “provide [their] customers with the best selection and shopping experience of any thrift store in the world.” They might even be the stores that Macklemore shops in, considering that he’s from Seattle.
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I think that live sports is just about the only thing keeping broadcast television alive. I’m waiting for the day when DVRs aren’t even necessary because everything is always on-demand. Unfortunately, it’s still going to be a while because the media behemoths have a lot to lose and a strong enough market position to put up a huge fight. We’ll get there eventually, but it will happen faster if upstarts like Bedrocket Media Ventures start to see a little success. They are a New York, NY based company that “is leading a revolution in creating networks and programming that people love, delivered through the cloud.” While they may be trying to beat the establishment, they’re getting a little help in the form of $15 million of venture capital investment.
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If you want to change something, you need to be able to measure it. Whether you’re talking about weight, revenue, or toxic emissions, establishing a yardstick for success is the first step in accomplishing a goal. The problem is that some of the most important things that we want to change are the hardest to measure. The environment is a perfect example, and that’s exactly what Global Footprint Network is focused on. They are an Oakland, CA based non-profit that was “established to enable a sustainable future where all people have the opportunity to live satisfying lives within the means of one planet.” As a result, Global Footprint Network is focused on “measuring human impact on the Earth so we can make more informed choices.”
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I don’t think that I’ve ever cared as much about how I look as I did on my wedding day. I was still pretty relaxed about it, but I made sure that I had a decent tan, a good haircut, the right amount of facial hair, and a great outfit. It’s not something that I usually care much about, but it’s nice to know that I can do what it takes to make myself look good with a little bit of effort For people with chronic and terminal illnesses, beauty often becomes an afterthought. It’s great to focus on what’s important (like health), but sometimes focusing on your appearance can improve your overall wellbeing. That’s the premise that Beauty Bus Foundation was founded with. They are a Santa Monica, CA based non-profit that “delivers dignity, hope and respite to chronically or terminally ill men, women and children and their caregivers through beauty and grooming services and pampering products.”
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One of the best parts about having a significant other is discovering embarrassing moments from his or her past. While my greatest find is the Cosmo cover with my wife’s 4 year old, lipstick smeared face and the headline “How to Attract Men Like Crazy,” a close runner up is the recruiting video that she sent to college volleyball coaches. Her mom shot it with the family camcorder, and it starts with a cheesy opening like “Hi, my name is Amy Gordon, and I want to play volleyball for your team (thumbs up).” It’s priceless, though I shouldn’t make fun considering that this video helped her get recruited to Cornell’s volleyball team–and that’s how we met. College sports recruiting has come a long way, and now most of it happens online. National Collegiate Scouting Association is a Chicago, IL based company that “was founded in 2000 to help student athletes and their families navigate the cutthroat, competitive, and often confusing world of college recruiting.” While they may sound like a non-profit, NCSA is a for-profit business that has seen tremendous growth over the last decade.
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After a long first 24 hours with my still-to-be-named puppy, I was thrilled to take 10 minutes by myself this morning to take a shower and brush my teeth. Enjoying showers is normal for me, but brushing my teeth always feels compulsory. Today it was a pleasure. Unfortunately, most people are like me and don’t really enjoy taking care of their mouths–some even completely ignore proper oral care. The consequences of poor oral hygiene are significant–it can be expensive, embarrassing, and even detrimental to your overall health. GoodMouth is a White Plains, NY based startup that wants to help “people, and their dentists, revolutionize the way oral care is done.” They don’t offer many details on their plan for doing this, but it’s not the kind of business that you see most startups building these days–that’s why I’m intrigued.
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Today my wife and I got our puppy from the breeder. He is a Braque Francais. Here’s a picture. He doesn’t have a name yet, so we’re taking suggestions (just hit reply–and bonus points if it’s French). I’m already completely in love with him, and that means that I’m headed down the path of buying ridiculous merchandise for my dog. Amy and I already made one trip to the pet store, and that resulted in extensive use of my veto power. One way I might be able to limit the damage is by subscribing to something like BarkBox. It’s a monthly subscription that gives you “a combination of 4-6 treats, toys, and hygiene products that have been hand selected” for your dog. While BarkBox is the product (and it came first), the company is Bark & Co. They are based in New York, NY, and they are “dedicated to building products that foster the health and happiness of dogs everywhere.”
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I moved last week, and that means I’ve been operating on other people’s schedules. Last week it was the movers, yesterday was the cleaning lady, today it was the cable guy, tomorrow it’s the box guy, and next week it’s the Salvation Army picking up all the stuff that we’re donating. While we “picked” all of the times for those appointments, we didn’t really have much of a choice. Wouldn’t it be nice to find people to help around the house who can be booked instantly online and are guaranteed to be on time? That’s what Handybook, which is based in New York, NY, offers. Unfortunately they don’t have people who will install your cable for you, but you can get cleaning, handyman, plumbing, and furniture assembly done on your schedule by professionals.
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I’ve suffered through many meals where I’ve convinced myself that I could run the restaurant better than the current management–even if I was blindfolded and had my arms tied behind my back. There are probably a few cases where that’s true, but for the most part regular people with no industry experience have no business running restaurants (just watch Kitchen Nightmares if you’re not convinced). The truth is that running a profitable restaurant is a huge accomplishment. The Culinary Edge is a San Francisco, CA based consulting firm that specializes in helping restaurants and other food-related businesses strengthen their brands, extend their reach, and increase their profitability. While it would be nice if they did work for small mom and pop type restaurants, the reality is that this kind of consulting is geared towards much bigger clients.
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I helped my grandparents move out of their house and into an assisted living center. They were in their 80s, and my grandmother was doing great, but my grandfather was suffering from Alzheimer’s/Dementia. She couldn’t take care of him on her own anymore, but she didn’t want to be separated. As a result, we found a place that gave her the freedom and homey feel that she wanted, but also gave her a ton of help caring for my grandfather. It was totally the right decision, but there’s always something sad about seeing people leave their homes for what will likely be the rest of their lives (it was for my grandparents). San Francisco Village is a San Francisco, CA based non-profit that aims to keep people who are aging in their homes. They believe that increasing “the physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual well-being of adults who choose to live in their own homes” will result in their members’ being able to “remain independent, active, and engaged in the San Francisco community.”
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Almost all of are here (in the United States) because of immigration. Whether it was you, your parents, your grandparents, or a passenger on The Mayflower, someone in your family decided that he or she wanted a better life and left a lot behind to come here. How long you’ve been here doesn’t really matter. What does matter is what you’re going to do while you’re here; however, being new to the country brings a lot of challenge. Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians is a Philadelphia, PA based non-profit that “connects newly arrived individuals from around the world with the economic opportunities that they need to succeed.” The Center has been around for a decade now, and in that time they’ve helped more than 8,000 people from well over 100 countries.
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I’ve been working at eating healthier for a while now. I have a huge appetite–and it gets bigger when I work out, so it’s not easy. I’ve made a lot of progress by shopping only around the perimeter at the grocery store and avoiding snacking, but I know that the latter is hard for people. If you’re going to snack, you might as well try to be healthy. NatureBox is a company that wants to make that easier for everyone. They’re a San Carlos, CA based ” high-growth e-commerce company that is reinventing the way people purchase healthy foods and groceries.” While I’ll assume that they have bigger plans, they’ve started by offering a monthly subscription that helps you discover “healthy, hand-picked snacks.”
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Yesterday we looked at SocialCode, an agency that specializes in social media marketing for huge brands. Today’s company does similar kinds of work, but at a higher level. We’re talking about things ranging “from media relations and corporate communications strategies to flawless event execution.” The company is called HL Group, and they’re based in New York, NY. It was “founded in 2001 by Hamilton South and Lynn Tesoro,” two industry professionals who decided to out on their own. HL Group has seen exceptional growth since, and they now work across a wide array of industries including fashion, retail, beauty, consumer products, technology, home design, travel and more.
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I’ve been dabbling in social media marketing since social media became a buzzword. I’ve typically been disappointed by the results. I’ve learned that it’s harder than it looks (and that most people don’t want to be social about their job search–which is why we built GIF Me a Job). The prospect of having millions of people telling their friends how awesome you are is pretty tempting, but it’s just not going to happen for most businesses. There are certainly exceptions, and many of them are major brands. When you already have millions of customers, it’s a lot easier (but still really hard) to truly engage them through social channels. SocialCode is a Washington, DC based “social marketing solutions provider” that “builds targeted communities, engages those audiences and converts them to customers and evangelists for leading global brands.”
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I have a platonic man crush on Ramit Sethi. I’ve pretty much been stalking him since 2007 (when I started ODOJ) by subscribing to his blog, signing up for his e-mail list, reading his book, poring over his Delicious links, and buying one of his courses. We even met in person once. It was in the lobby of a trendy W hotel waiting for him, and when he walked up I played it cool by slamming my head into some stupid lamp that was hanging over the lounge chair that I was sitting on. Why am I so obsessed with some random Indian dude who is only a couple years older than me? Because he has built an amazing business that helps people achieve their career and financial dreams. I tend to gag at most of the advice that I hear from “career experts,” yet when I see something come from I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Ramit’s company–he used to have to reiterate that it’s not a scam because the name sounds so questionable), my eyes get all dreamy and I just start nodding in agreement. I occasionally even yell “YES!” at my computer.
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Yesterday we looked at Yoga Alliance and how they’re helping the field of yoga grow from a cultural curiosity to a mainstream activity that millions of Americans participate in. Yoga is a perfect example of how we can take traditions from other cultures and integrate them into our lives to improve our health. The problem is that for every tradition that will actually make you healthier, there are probably a few that have little or no benefit (or even a negative effect). ALOHA is a New York, NY based startup that “combines traditional wisdom from diverse cultures across the globe with the latest scientific research and collaborates with the world’s most esteemed experts and health gurus to develop innovative products and inspiring content.” They’ll help you discover new ways to live a healthier, more enjoyable life–and you won’t have to worry that you’re wasting time with something that is scientifically unproven.
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I never pictured myself doing yoga, but one day my back started hurting. My mom told me to see her trainer and do a yoga session with her. It wasn’t some magical cure-all like some people might claim, but it definitely helped. I ended up really liking the physical part (stretching and bodyweight exercise), but the rest just isn’t for me; however, it is for a lot of people. Yoga has exploded in popularity, and now pretty much anyone who wants to can claim to be a yoga instructor. Yoga Alliance is an Arlington, VA non-profit that exists “to sustain and support the field of yoga.” They do this by “by providing the public with a registry of teachers and schools whose training meets our standards, and by supporting yoga teachers, schools and studios in their work as yoga professionals.”
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Transportation is all about turning energy into movement. The problem is that almost every single mode of transportation results in some sort of environmental impact. Even when you’re walking down the street, you’re constantly expelling carbon dioxide. After thinking about it for a while, I’ve come to the conclusion that floating down a river might be the cleanest form of transportation. Unfortunately, that’s not realistic for most of us (even if it is my favorite way to travel). Luckily, we have the International Council on Clean Transportation to help us all move towards cleaner transportation. They are a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims “to improve the environmental performance and energy efficiency of road, marine, and air transportation sectors and fuels, in order to benefit public health and mitigate climate change.”
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It used to be that airlines were the only businesses that I could earn rewards with, but as many markets have become more competitive, companies from all kinds of industries have jumped on the bandwagon. While offering great products and services at reasonable prices should be enough to keep customers, many companies aren’t able to do that–so they offer rewards instead. The problem is that managing a rewards program has nothing to do with running most business. That’s where Destination Rewards steps in. They’re a Boca Raton, FL (and Plymouth, MI) based company that creates and manages “web-based customized rewards programs.” Destination Rewards does all of the heavy lifting, and their clients can just plug and play.
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Finding office space is easy for me. It’s anywhere that I can put my laptop, get an Internet connection (which is especially easy with a mobile hotspot), and occasionally find enough quiet to talk on the phone. Most companies need something a bit more formal, and that means leasing space. Finding an appropriate office space can be a grueling process, which is why View The Space is aiming to simplify and expedite it. They are a New York, NY based startup that is “built around streamlining the leasing process through HD video tours, targeted distribution and analytics.” The company’s customers are broker and landlords, but the software saves lessors a lot of time too.
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When I was a kid, a magazine subscription was one of the best gifts that you could get me (especially to Beckett Baseball Card Monthly). I loved the excitement of receiving mail, and I loved the magazine format. Today the only magazines that I receive in the mail are the ones that come free with memberships. Almost all of my content consumption is digital now, but that doesn’t mean that the magazine is dead. Issuu is “the world’s fastest growing digital publishing platform.” The company is based in Palo Alto, CA, but they also have a significant presence in Copenhagen, Denmark (focused mostly on design and engineering). Issuu’s goal is to change the publishing industry by “making it a more democratic, colorful and free place to be.”
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Everybody hates bills, but people especially hate bills that take extra work to pay. Writing a check, filling out a form, addressing an envelope, and affixing a stamp is almost worse than the financial hit from paying the bill (at least it is in my book). Convenient bill paying not only helps consumers, but it also helps companies collect on bills faster. Billtrust is a Hamilton, NJ based company that has “developed state-of-the-art products and services designed to simplify the billing process.” Whether it’s business to business billing or business to consumer billing, Billtrust offers solutions that save all parties time and money.
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Yesterday we looked at Institute for Educational Leadership, one of a seemingly endless number of non-profits devoted to improving educational outcomes. Education seems to be one of the most worthy and, as a result, pursued causes, but I think poverty reduction has to come in number one. Project Concern International is a San Diego, CA based international development non-profit that works to “prevent disease, improve community health and promote sustainable development worldwide.” The core idea behind PCI is that they identify areas with the greatest need and then deliver help in a way that can have lasting community impact.
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One of the most important areas that non-profits do work in is education. I have no doubt that education can be the solution to many of society’s biggest problems; however, improving educational outcomes for any group of people is never easy. There are organizations working on nearly every facet of education, so one would hope that we’ll eventually start seeing some significant gains. The Institute for Educational Leadership is a Washington, DC based non-profit that brings “together leaders across the various sectors of education (P-20), workforce development and child- and youth-serving systems” to build “partnerships across institutional boundaries, helping individuals and institutions tackle leadership challenges and leverage the resources of multiple partners to foster reform.”
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Yesterday was a day to celebrate our freedoms. Being able to speak and express ourselves freely is the most important in my book. Even though we have that right, there is no guarantee that anyone will listen or pay attention to us. If you want to be heard, you have to promote your voice. That’s what See.Me is all about. They are a New York, NY based company that has built a platform that allows artists of all kinds to “share the best of what [they] do and gain recognition and support within [a] vibrant international community.” It’s a place to get exposure, meet other artists, and even earn financial contributions from those who want to support your work.
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I love the Fourth of July. How can you not get excited about a holiday filled with patriotism, fireworks, hot weather, and barbecues? It also happens to be my mom’s birthday. In previous years I’ve take the Fourth to look at Big Fireworks, Nathan’s Famous, Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Safety Council, and Phantom Fireworks. Today we’re going to go with the patriotism theme and take a look at Annin Flagmakers. They are based in Roseland, NJ and were founded in 1847. That makes them America’s oldest and largest flag manufacturer. They make pretty much any kind of flag that you could imagine, as you can see here. Annin doesn’t have an Internship page, but they are a pretty sizable company. Put your patriotic spirit to use and reach out to them if you think that an internship centered around flags is for you.
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