Online Firms Are Leading the Charge for Sustainable CSR
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 1:07:01 AM
Online Firms Are Leading the Charge for Sustainable CSR
DUBAI, UAE, September 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Speed, adaptability and community reach key differentiators from
conventional campaigns
CSR activities are no longer restricted to large organizations with heavy marketing
budgets, due to the SME boom in the UAE and GCC. In particular, online firms are very
often taking the lead in targeted CSR and community activities that make a measurable
difference.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120926/564501 )
"The advantages that online businesses possess in their commercial model - speed,
adaptability, rapid response and community integration can also be channelled effectively
to develop CSR campaigns. In fact, for smaller firms, CSR is not about making an expensive
statement as much as it is to engage with the community for good causes as a daily way of
conducting operations," said Mr. Warrick Godfrey, Co-founder & CMO of Dubai-based online
group buying site Cobone.
Cobone has seen tremendous success in local and regional markets, allowing people to
access goods, services and luxuries at a fraction of their true price. In August, Cobone
crossed the 1.6 million subscribers and has saved customers over AED 240 million in the
process.
The same model of bulk consumer buy-in can be used to create substantiated positive
change, as Cobone demonstrated when it launched a not-for-profit deal that asked for
donations to the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The deal, launched in 14 December 2011,
asked for AED 5 contributions that would allow WFP to feed a schoolchild for a week.
Cobone customers could also pledge AED 20 to feed a child for a month, or AED 200 for the
entire school year. By the close of the Cobone deal, sufficient funds had been raised for
the WFP to provide 100,000 nutritious meals to school children in need. In 2012,
Cobone.com ran two more deals for WFP placing almost 200,000 meals on the table for
children in need.
- "This initiative shows the power of crowd sourcing, and how technology can
be a powerful mediator to bring people together for their own collective advantage as
well as to help others. Cobone remains one of the pioneers of e-commerce, and we're
harnessing it for social endeavors too. Increasingly, we're seeing the online space
leading the charge for channelling the power of crowds to make a tangible, targeted
difference to social wellbeing," concluded Mr. Godfrey.
- "Our partnership with Cobone illustrates how effectively and rapidly companies
can make an impact by simply mobilizing their online community, especially when the
appeal revolves around such a tangible and low-cost gesture," said Elise Bijon, WFP
Partnerships & Business Development Manager for the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern
Europe and Central Asia. "Cobone has treated its CSR initiative in support of WFP's
School Meals programme with a genuine business spirit, capitalizing on its core
expertise and infrastructure to help ensure an optimal reach and outcome; that's
precisely how we would like all our partners to support our cause."
About Cobone.com
Launched in August 2010, Cobone.com is one of the fastest growing web sites in the
region, currently with over 1,600,000 members and almost $70 million dollars in savings
(as of September 2012). Cobone.com gives its customers the chance to experience their
city's best offers on spas, restaurants and outdoor experiences with discounts from 50 per
cent to 90 per cent. A new deal is featured every day and customers are encouraged to
invite their friends and family to take part in the deal, earning extra credit in the
process. Cobone.com has evolved into a value ecommerce platform; customers can now also
enjoy the latest electronics, fashion and household products on the site. Shopping on
Cobone.com is safe and easy, and offers members all forms of payment options including
credit cards, cash on delivery, Paypal, CashU, and OneCard.
Further information, please contact:
Mr. Joe Akkawi
PAZ Marketing Management
PR and Events
Tel: +971-4-2980808
Email: joe.akkawi@pazmarketing.com
Ms. Miya Billones
PAZ Marketing Management
PR and Events
Tel: +971-4-2980808
Email: miya.billones@pazmarketing.com
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120926/564501
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120926/564501
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Cobone.com
DUBAI, UAE, September 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Speed, adaptability and community reach key differentiators from
conventional campaigns
CSR activities are no longer restricted to large organizations with heavy marketing
budgets, due to the SME boom in the UAE and GCC. In particular, online firms are very
often taking the lead in targeted CSR and community activities that make a measurable
difference.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120926/564501 )
"The advantages that online businesses possess in their commercial model - speed,
adaptability, rapid response and community integration can also be channelled effectively
to develop CSR campaigns. In fact, for smaller firms, CSR is not about making an expensive
statement as much as it is to engage with the community for good causes as a daily way of
conducting operations," said Mr. Warrick Godfrey, Co-founder & CMO of Dubai-based online
group buying site Cobone.
Cobone has seen tremendous success in local and regional markets, allowing people to
access goods, services and luxuries at a fraction of their true price. In August, Cobone
crossed the 1.6 million subscribers and has saved customers over AED 240 million in the
process.
The same model of bulk consumer buy-in can be used to create substantiated positive
change, as Cobone demonstrated when it launched a not-for-profit deal that asked for
donations to the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The deal, launched in 14 December 2011,
asked for AED 5 contributions that would allow WFP to feed a schoolchild for a week.
Cobone customers could also pledge AED 20 to feed a child for a month, or AED 200 for the
entire school year. By the close of the Cobone deal, sufficient funds had been raised for
the WFP to provide 100,000 nutritious meals to school children in need. In 2012,
Cobone.com ran two more deals for WFP placing almost 200,000 meals on the table for
children in need.
- "This initiative shows the power of crowd sourcing, and how technology can
be a powerful mediator to bring people together for their own collective advantage as
well as to help others. Cobone remains one of the pioneers of e-commerce, and we're
harnessing it for social endeavors too. Increasingly, we're seeing the online space
leading the charge for channelling the power of crowds to make a tangible, targeted
difference to social wellbeing," concluded Mr. Godfrey.
- "Our partnership with Cobone illustrates how effectively and rapidly companies
can make an impact by simply mobilizing their online community, especially when the
appeal revolves around such a tangible and low-cost gesture," said Elise Bijon, WFP
Partnerships & Business Development Manager for the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern
Europe and Central Asia. "Cobone has treated its CSR initiative in support of WFP's
School Meals programme with a genuine business spirit, capitalizing on its core
expertise and infrastructure to help ensure an optimal reach and outcome; that's
precisely how we would like all our partners to support our cause."
About Cobone.com
Launched in August 2010, Cobone.com is one of the fastest growing web sites in the
region, currently with over 1,600,000 members and almost $70 million dollars in savings
(as of September 2012). Cobone.com gives its customers the chance to experience their
city's best offers on spas, restaurants and outdoor experiences with discounts from 50 per
cent to 90 per cent. A new deal is featured every day and customers are encouraged to
invite their friends and family to take part in the deal, earning extra credit in the
process. Cobone.com has evolved into a value ecommerce platform; customers can now also
enjoy the latest electronics, fashion and household products on the site. Shopping on
Cobone.com is safe and easy, and offers members all forms of payment options including
credit cards, cash on delivery, Paypal, CashU, and OneCard.
Further information, please contact:
Mr. Joe Akkawi
PAZ Marketing Management
PR and Events
Tel: +971-4-2980808
Email: joe.akkawi@pazmarketing.com
Ms. Miya Billones
PAZ Marketing Management
PR and Events
Tel: +971-4-2980808
Email: miya.billones@pazmarketing.com
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120926/564501
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120926/564501
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Cobone.com