Build.com set for some corporate giving in 2012

Build.com set for some corporate giving in 2012

Posted by Sean at 8:14 am

Through July 2012, Build.com will be donating $1,000 a month to one of five select charities. We're asking our Facebook fans to choose which charity receives our donation.

Northern California-based home improvement company uses light-hearted sales contest as springboard for philanthropy

Chico, CA—What began as a friendly battle for sales supremacy soon evolved into monthly donations to charity. Build.com is gearing up for some fun corporate giving.

In Aug. 2011, Christian Friedland, President of online home improvement company Build.com, challenged Pro salesman Gary Clark to a four-hour sales contest, with the winner’s total to be given to charity. Clark rang up $8,000 in sales, which Build.com (No. 80 on Internet Retailer Magazine’s Top 500 List) will split evenly over an eight-month period.

The first beneficiary was Thanks-A-Bunch, which transforms $10 donations into $50 restaurant gift cards for American veterans.

“The donations are important to help show that Build.com has personality and compassion, which can sometimes get lost today,” Clark said. “We also feel that philanthropy is just one significant aspect of our overall company culture.”

For the second donation, Build.com has asked its Facebook fans to choose from five different charities: Habitat For Humanity, The American Red Cross; Rebuilding Together; LIVESTRONG; and Charity: Water. In addition, according to Social Media manager Mario Magliozzi, “with each monthly poll, we’re encouraging voters to submit their ideas for charities worthy of our attention and donation through July 2012.”

While Friedland originally challenged Clark to the sales duel, it was Clark who envisioned the donations—a collaboration that truly defines the culture at Build.com.

“As a company, we’ve been highly successful in our space, and as a result have the opportunity to be generous and philanthropic,” Magliozzi said. “It’s also part of our company culture to be creative and willing to try out new ideas. So when an employee suggests that we consider an idea like this, we listen.”

Build.com offers the most efficient online home improvement shopping experience. The Northern California-based company also has a zeal for helping meaningful causes. In July 2010, Build.com responded to the record-setting floods in Nasvhille, Tenn., and donated $5,000 to the charity Hands On Nashville via Facebook campaign. Build.com has also volunteered at two different building sites for the local Habitat For Humanity chapter in 2010 and 2011.

About Build.com
Based in Chico, Calif., Build.com is innovating the online home improvement retail space. Build.com creates a unique shopping experience by encouraging customers to visit a diverse range of niche stores within its network. Build.com, the second-largest online home improvement company, is among the online category leaders in plumbing, lighting, door hardware and ventilation. For more information on Build.com, visit the company’s corporate site or its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BuildDotCom.

Contact: Sean Murphy, Public Relations, Build.com, smurphy(at)build(dot)com and (800) 375-3403, x476.