Market America Completes Acquisition of Shop.com
As you previously saw on the Bloomberg TV interview, people were curious about the shop.com acquisition and the future of Market America. I have to say that when I sat down to reflect all our achievements in the past year I was truly amazed on how much we have grown of what started out of a garage with my beautiful wife Loren Ridinger. Earlier this year we launched ma Cashback program, where we pay up to 50% cashback on your purchases. Since our launch we have added more stores, increased cashback amounts and made a huge push into solidifying our place among the elite online retailers, but we are hungry and our customers are hungry. A magical moment for me happened in the last month which was the acquisition of shop.com
Celebrities gather for TwitChange to help Haiti
Being an entrepreneur at times can be a difficult task. You can feel like you're being pulled in a million directions one minute with many people wanting your time for various things. For example, to attend a charity function or to send a tweet to their friend. Other times, people want your approval on things or simply want to occupy your time with what they think is the greatest thing ever to hit the Internet!
As an entrepreneur, it really is something that becomes a fact of your life. That's why it is important to give back to those people that have helped you to get where you're at along the way. It is also a time to give back to those during times of need as well. Just last week, my wife (and marketing genius), Loren Ridinger, came to me with a great idea that our good friend, Eva Longoria-Parker was instrumental at pulling together.
The concept is simple -- tweeting for change via Twitchange.com. Celebrities donate a mention, retweet or follow that can be bid on via an online auction. The proceeds from the winning bids go to help Haiti. As an entrepreneur, this is an excellent way to not only get your name out there by supporting a great cause, but also a great way to give back in the process.
Not only you giving back to your fans, but you're also helping to support those that need your help -- kind of like when you first got started in business -- you needed someone's help to keep you going and motivating you to keep pressing forward when things got tough.
In addition to offering tweets for change, it's nice to see a number of our celebrity friends like Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys and Kim Kardashian also donating tweets. I also like the fact that others are not just donating tweets.
Loren for instance, is giving additional incentives to those that win her auctions - in return, she is giving the winning bidders the following:
Includes a follow (for up to 90 days), ReTweet and mention from Loren Ridinger. Winning bidder also receives two (2) tickets to the Vogue event in Miami, Florida.
Includes a mention in a tweet from Loren Ridinger. Winning bidder also receives a Motives Autumn/Winter kit.
Includes a ReTweet from Loren Ridinger. Winning bidder also receives a 30-minute mentoring session with Loren.
Includes a follow (for up to 90 days). Winning bidder also receives a diamond Macrame bracelet from the Loren Jewels collection.
Make a difference in someones life and get rewarded in the process. You're giving to help Haiti. In return, you're getting a tweet, follow or mention (and in Loren's case, more) from your favorite celebrity. A big congratulations to all of the celebrities participating in the first TwitChange and a huge thank you to those bidding to help Haiti out.
As entrepreneurs, we've also struggled to get where we're at. Take a moment and give back. As it typically works out, you'll be rewarded many times over in the end.
Keep growing. I believe in you.
JR Ridinger
I'm Not A Businessman, I'm A Business, Man
He's had more Number One albums than Elvis Presley. He hangs with Barack Obama at the White House. And he's riding high after leaving his longtime label Def Jam to work a $150 million deal with Live Nation, delivering some of his best live performances ever. I had the pleasure of meeting Jay Z last Saturday over dinner on Utopia III. Jay-Z stayed cool, he is an observer, he seems like he is always trying to think ahead. As an entrepreneur, he is always envisioning new ideas, plotting his next move, he hears a beat and immediately bops his head, stays quiet but in his mind he already has a hit song. He is a force, he is the brand, like he says I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man! Which reminds me of every entrepreneur who is out hustling, plotting and programming their every move. So what drove Jay-Z to the top? Read the article below it might provide you with some personal and business success lessons.
About Jay Z: Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America having had a net worth of over $350 million in 2009. He has sold approximately 40 million albums worldwide, while receiving ten Grammy Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations.
