Most people are looking for ideas to assist others. Maybe they volunteer their time either at a local food bank or a homeless shelter. Perhaps, they donate money and/or services to their favorite cause. Or, they offer advice to those in need. Regardless of what the reasons are for lending a hand, there are many charities to choose from.
One local woman has a creative idea to raise money and awareness for a given mission and goal. Cori Durfee has a retail website that enables charitable organizations to raise funds without having to do too much work and at no cost.
Her website, www.Shop.com/CoriDurfee, has thousands of name-brand items and services available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds generated from the sales goes to the non-profit so they can continue their respective missions.
“We work with national retailers such as Home Depot and Walmart to provide items that most people would normally buy,” she said.
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Cori began her business seven years ago. She was raising triplets and as they grew up, Cori realized that she wanted to take up a hobby. However, Cori was unable to find anything that either truly interested or inspired her. One of her friends searched for a ceiling fan and found one online. That triggered something that enabled Cori to see her future.
“I wanted to learn more about online shopping,” Cori said. “My husband was addicted to Amazon, so I wanted to see for myself how it all worked. Once I understood the basics, I wanted to participate.”
She credits her initial group of colleagues for getting her business off the ground. Cori said the camaraderie amongst the group helped her own site grow. Cori is not only a business owner, but she is also a customer.
“My daughter, Madison, is in the theatre. She was using makeup products that her face reacted to every time there was a show. Madison trouble seeing to the point that she prayed it would be OK for the show. My daughter bought some makeup from my site that was gluten free and vegan free. It worked without any side effects.
“That is the reason why I can proudly stand behind these products,” Cori said.
Unlike many businesses, www.Shop.com/CoriDurfeeprimarily advertises through word-of-mouth. They do little to no advertising. That is because the corporate office provides more than 50 percent of the profit back to the owners. This provides them with the resources to further represent their communities. Some of the website owners’ market themselves at networking events and local outreach such as business owners’ meetings.
Cori’s website has many items available, but there are other options for those harder-to-find items. She said the company has 15 categories for customers to choose from. Besides those categories previously mentioned, they offer debt reduction services (without having to declare bankruptcy, Cori said), healthy aging, gut health, and much more.
She said the best part is that customers receive cash back on their purchases. They can earn between 2% and 35%, depending on the item and its exclusivity. The funds can either be directly deposited into a bank account or used on future purchases of exclusive products.
Where non-profits with a 501c can benefit is by getting their own website up and running at no charge. Cori said she takes care of the initial setup and maintenance for free. All the charity does is market themselves. They receive a portion of the profits raised from their sales daily.
Cori said numerous charities have taken advantage of this endeavor with positive impact.
“Charities are looking for ways to raise money without spending money up front. This is one viable possibility. I take care of the initial startup. The non-profit just needs to contact their audiences or push out their website on social media to bring in traffic. Some places have received a good amount of funds as a result. I welcome the chance to speak with any business owner who would like to learn more,” Cori said.
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Additionally, Cori hosts an online weight loss course called “GoTrim.” She also has an in-person group that meets in Riverside.
Cori also enjoys working with small businesses; doctors, hairdressers, auto repair, gyms, pet centers, daycares, and many more, with a brick & mortar to assist them in raising more funds through their business.
Further details about the GoTrim program and www.Shop.com/CoriDurfee may be found on her website or by contacting her at 401-243-7929.
