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About cShops
What is cShops?
cShops is an e-commerce channel through which grassroots nonprofit organizations (NPOs) can sell artisan goods in order to continue and grow their community development programs and generate awareness regarding their work. This is achieved by eliminating profit taken by the middle man, giving consumers a chance to participate in social change, and providing an opportunity for volunteers to increase the charity in their lives. cShops is an all-volunteer effort and no volunteers receive any remuneration.
How did the idea come about?
We wanted to serve, leverage the resources that we had access to and fulfill a need that wasn't met. cShops seemed like the perfect fit!
Where does the money go?
All of the profits go directly to the nonprofit that manufactured the product. The nonprofit partners that are selected to participate in cShops use the profits to fund community development projects in their communities. The money goes to benefit the community, which in turn supports the artisans. Since cShops is an all-volunteer project, we carry no overhead and therefore 100% of the profits are returned to the nonprofits.
In the traditional model, how much of the proceeds go the nonprofit? What do we expect for cShops?
In the traditional model, it is generally agreed that about 2-5 cents on every dollar goes back to the artisan groups that built the product. cShops leverages volunteers in all the areas where costs are normally taken, therefore allowing all of the profits to return to the nonprofit that produced the product.
Are there other ways in which this will help the nonprofit?
Yes. We plan to empower the grassroots, community based nonprofits with operations, logistical, accounting, and international outreach efficiencies.
How would this be different than Ebay?
We considered many models before we started. Ebay is certainly a powerful and legitimate one but there were many needs that were not addressed by Ebay. The table below explains more:
|
Community eCommerce |
EBay.com |
Traditional NGO |
| Identity |
with community |
with product |
with cause |
| Motive |
social change |
profit |
profit (for cause) |
| Connection |
consumer-producer |
consumer-seller |
consumer-seller |
| Relationship |
'meaning' based |
transaction based |
-- |
| Inspire |
through web, packaging, outreach content |
-- |
through outreach content |
| Strategy |
empower community efforts with operations, logistics, accounting and outreach efficiencies for eCommerce |
empower outreach for individuals doing eCommerce |
-- |
What was CharityFocus' involvement with cShops?(support)
CharityFocus helped to incubate cShops. By providing volunteer service, CharityFocus set up the teams that turned the cShops vision into a reality. These service groups are: Technology, Logistics and Distribution, Reachout, Operations, Communications, and Service.
What was the cost of setting up cShops?
Whatever costs were incurred in setting up cShops, such as paying for web services or domain names, were absorbed by CharityFocus. In essence, there were no overhead or infrastructure costs in establishing cShops.
What is the future of cShops?
As we organically grow our services, we will develop lasting relationships with our NPO partners through providing knowledge bases that support their efforts and providing volunteers in varying capacities. Our aim is not to get as many organizations as possible on cShops, but rather to ensure that the organizations that we work with are supported and that cShops is successfully serving their needs.
Can I just make a donation?
Please refer to the nonprofit partners' website to find contact information if you'd like to donate directly to one of the nonprofits.
Nonprofit Partners
How does cShops choose its partners?
We choose partners by evaluating the mission of the nonprofit and based on their readiness to export goods. When evaluating organizations, we look for nonprofits that are working in community development, primarily to educate children, as well as providing health care and economic opportunities within their communities.
[ selection criteria ]
Who are our current partners?
For our pilot, we partnered with Manav Sadhna. Their inspiring mission, well-run organization, established infrastructure to develop goods, semi-developed support in various U.S. communities, experience in international handicraft sales (due to a recent 18 city tour where they sold close to $100K in goods in 2 months), and support to fully implement cShops' vision make them a great organization to work with.
[ more ]
Are there other nonprofits that we plan on working with in the future?
We are beginning to talk to nonprofits in Brazil, Ghana, El Salvador, South Africa, India, and Vietnam. Simultaneously, we are documenting our methods and practices to facilitate the integration process for future nonprofit partners.
How can I get in touch with the nonprofit organization that made this product?
Visit their website directly. For our pilot, go to:
http://www.manavsadhna.org/
We are a nonprofit organization and we'd like to sell our
products through cShops. How do we initiate the process?
It is important to view the list of desired capabilities for nonprofit
partners, which can viewed online.
Some of the basic requirements include:
- Someone willing to represent them in the United States
- Ability to communicate with cShops volunteers through the Internet
- Ability to read and communicate in English
- The ability to devote resources and sustain the venture over the long term
What is CharityFocus?
CharityFocus is a volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, started in April 1999, to empower nonprofits with web-based technological solutions. On the surface, our slogan of “Helping Others Help Others” describes the activities of our volunteers: we build websites, provide technical assistance, and engage in a wide variety of projects designed to benefit the many nonprofit organizations dedicated to public service. CharityFocus volunteers help nonprofits to better serve their beneficiaries.
What are the guiding principles of CharityFocus?
- CharityFocus is an incubator of compassionate action.
- The focus of our philanthropy is to facilitate change in the heart of the giver.
- The joy is in the journey.
- CharityFocus shuns hierarchy.
- CharityFocus means helping others help others.
- CharityFocus values time over money.
What is CharityFocus' involvement with cShops?
CharityFocus helped incubate cShops. By providing volunteer service, CharityFocus set up the teams that turned the cShops vision into a reality. These service groups are: Technology, Logistics and Distribution, Reachout, Operations, Communications, and Service.
Order Processing
How can I pay for my purchase?
All purchases on cShops are done through PayPal. Setting up a PayPal
account is secure, free, and links to your credit card or checking
account. Over 25 million people have a PayPal account worldwide.
Can I use a credit card?
Absolutely! Since we work with PayPal, you will be signed up
as a user of their service; this doesn't require any additional
information and PayPal has the most competitive rates (2.7% plus
30 cents per transaction) for our nonprofit constituents.
Can I mail in a check or send cash?
We do not accept checks or cash as a form of payment for cShops products.
How quickly will I get my goods?
All orders will be fulfilled, using US Postal Service, within 3-7 business days.
Using USPS is the cheapest and most convenient way of mailing products. The best way to send out our items is through the Priority Mail flat-rate envelope. The only exception is that delivery to Alaska, Hawaii, or Florida may take up to 6 days. The products will be shipped from different locations throughout the United States where nonprofits have volunteers fulfilling their orders.
How are the products shipped?
The products are very carefully packaged by volunteers with all of the inserts and information about the artisans that produced your purchase. All artisan goods are shipped through the US Postal Service.
Does cShops ship internationally?
Currently we only ship to addresses in the United States.
Can I ship to an address different from my billing address?
At the moment, we can only ship to an individual's billing address. In the near future, however, we will have the capability to send artisan products to addresses other than the billing address.
Do we gift-wrap?
We are not presently set up to gift-wrap presents.
Is there a gift registry?
A gift registry will soon be added to the cShops website.
Customer Service
What is your return or exchange policy?
If you are unsatisfied with the product you received, you can send it back within 14 days for a full refund. The refund will include the cost of the product but will not include shipping and handling charges. If the item arrives broken or damaged, or the wrong item was sent, you can return it for a full refund including the shipping and handling charges or exchange it.
How do I return a purchase?
If you would like to return a purchase, please attach appropriate
postage and send it back by U.S. Postal Service. Please make sure
to include all of the original contents, including the invoice, and
repackage all of the contents securely. Since we have many people
who fulfill order, please email cshops@charityfocus.org
to find out the exact address of the returns.
How can I get a refund?
When sending your purchase back, please include the reason for the
return and mail it via the U.S. Postal Service as specified above.
What if I'm not satisfied with my product?
If the product you received does not satisfy you, you can return or exchange it.
How can I contact cShops?
Please feel free to contact us at cshops@charityfocus.org or call us at (408) 247-1830.
How do you use my private information?
Here at cShops, we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We feel that our website should be a safe environment for anyone who visits and purchases. Since we sell products that require sensitive information, we are deeply committed to ensuring the best possible online security, service, and experience as you support nonprofit organizations through your purchases.
Any other questions? Email cshops@charityfocus.org
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