This 'n' Data

Giving back can mean getting back

Giving back feels good, and independent garden centers are a sincere, charitable group. But data shows that doing good can also help increase profits for businesses. According to Nielsen’s Global Corporate Citizenship Survey, 46 percent of consumers worldwide are willing to pay more for goods and services from companies that participate in philanthropic endeavors.

These types of initiatives do attract a certain consumer – more than half of people between 15 and 39 years old said they’d be willing to dish out more dough, while 37 percent of people over 40 said they’d be willing to pay more.

Source: BusinessNewsDaily

Logan Trading Company collected more than 20,000 pounds of produce in 2012.

Here’s how some garden centers gave back in 2012:

• Logan Trading Company in Raleigh, N.C., collected more than 20,000 pounds of produce in 2012 for hunger relief organizations as part of the national Plant a Row for the Hungry program, according to its website.
   
• Sugar Creek Garden Center in Fort Mill, S.C., donated a Christmas tree to a family in need, according to Sugar Creek’s Facebook page.
   
• Ploch’s & Strawberry Blossom Home & Garden Center in Wayne, N.J., joined forces with the Integrated Service Group to collect food and toys for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, according to the garden center’s Facebook page.
   
• Lukas Nursery in Oviedo, Fla., donated a portion of proceeds from Christmas tree and poinsettia sales to one of five local charities. Customers selected the nonprofit they wanted to support.

Black Friday sales could mean good news for small businesses in 2013

If Black Friday sales are any indication of what 2013 holds for consumer spending, than small businesses should smile.

Based on data from a National Retail Federation survey conducted by BIGinsight, more than 35 million U.S. consumers visited retailers both in person and online just on Thanksgiving this year, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. That’s up more than 20 percent versus last year’s 29 million Thanksgiving shoppers. A record number of people, 89 million, shopped online and in stores on Black Friday this year, which was an increase of 3 million consumers over last year’s 86 million Black Friday shoppers.

Another record was set for the entire weekend, with 247 million shoppers taking part in Black Friday holiday sales and shopping events. That was a jump of nearly 10 percent over last year’s 226 million shoppers. Consumers also spent more this year with average weekend receipts of $423 versus $398 last year. Total Black Friday weekend spending is estimated to be 59.1 billion.