The Charity Hub Founder & CEO Dave Rolleston is interviewed by the Passion for Impact podcast host Trisha Miltimore, a Passion Igniter, Speaker, and thought leader in WorkLife Experience. Listen to what inspired Dave to start The Charity Hub and the leadership lessons he learned along the way.
The Charity Hub (TCH) offers a unique Triple Impact Liquidation Solution that helps companies support their corporate social responsibility and raise their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) profile by turning excess and unwanted inventory into charitable donations.
Trisha seeks socially conscious people and businesses that are changing lives... and the world. Listen to their thought-provoking discussion and learn about Dave and his passion to raise charitable funds and Do Some Good by helping corporations with an industry-wide problem: excess inventory.
Listen to the 37-minute podcast NOW
Also, read podcast highlights below.
Podcast Highlights
Trisha asks Dave the following questions about The Charity Hub (TCH):
How did The Charity Hub get started? Learn...
about Dave's background as a liquidation broker for 20+ years buying and selling goods and how he hit career burnout.
how Dave was inspired to give back after fundraising for his kid's activities and the challenges he faced.
how Dave achieved his 2021 goal of raising $100K for charity in only 65 days!
why TCH chose to be a social enterprise instead of a non-profit organization and donates 50% of net profits to charities.
how TCH donated almost $500K in only 24 months.
what Dave learned about how corporations are looking for innovative solutions to improve their corporate social responsibility.
why corporations are excited to work with TCH to support their CSR and ESG goals and demonstrate to shareholders that they are diverting goods from the landfill while "doing good" with their excess inventory that has been written off or written down by working with a Broker for Good.
What are the biggest challenges The Charity Hub is facing?
Finding affordable warehouse space is the biggest challenge for TCH due to our rapidly increasing product growth from corporate partners. While TCH can/does rent warehouse space in Toronto, TCH is actively looking for property owners that will help us support the mandate of giving as much back to charity as possible (instead of paying costly rent).
Warehouse space is the top challenge. Freight and trucking costs are another.
Where do you see The Charity Hub in 5 years?
There are unbelievable global opportunities to partner with corporations to help them do what they are already doing - liquidating inventory. Nobody is doing what TCH is doing - creating impact out of excess.
Excess inventory in the global economy is $1 Trillion!
The e-Commerce Industry alone generates 15 Billion Pounds of returns every single year.
By 2026, it's forecasted that the global economy will have $750 Billion of excess product that TCH could turn into impact for our communities.
Charities are only growing by 6% annually globally with a funding deficit of $22 Billion by 2026.
The landfills are getting richer and the charities are getting poorer. There is a HUGE opportunity for TCH to turn this excess into impact.
How do you manage growth expectations?
TCH must remain focused on good structure, avoiding debt, partnering with the right corporations, doing simple things right, and capitalizing on what's in front of us.
TCH will leverage good relationships and expand our network to help us open doors and share our message with other companies.
Ideally, if TCH could have the first look at insurance claims, we could identify which goods are still salvageable and saleable and could turn them into cash for charity.
What advice would you provide to entrepreneurs wanting to create a social enterprise?
Start-ups need to carefully scrutinize costs, closely monitor their burn rate and avoid debt. If debt is required, make sure it's 'smart debt'.
Be frugal and keep things simple!
Keep focused and try not to be distracted by the 'new shiny object'.
What personal habits support your own growth mindset?
Exercise! I clear my head through exercise to improve body and mind.
What's your favorite book?
The Wealthy Barber offers great simple rules!
How do you help your team focus on the growth mindset?
TCH was created on the basis of doing good. Our founders believe strongly in what we are doing and are working for free right now. We believe: if we build it, the opportunity will come.
I'm a hands-off leader and let my team take ownership of their job.
How do you make big decisions in business?
I listen to my gut for big personal and professional decisions because the decision is mine and I take responsibility. We're all survivors and I believe your gut will direct you in the right direction.
I also ask a variety of trusted people for their opinion and their experience. I like to see if there is a pattern.
I combine the gut with those trusted opinions - don't be afraid!
How do you hire for your team?
Team members have to believe in what we are doing and be a great fit for our culture.
We look for good, happy, level-headed people that want to do good.
What's your favourite meal?
BBQ steak or hamburger with friends
What's the best wisdom you've received?
Try harder and be truthful to yourself. Be vulnerable and accept the truth.
Go to About Us to learn more about Dave and the team.
Other Podcast Listening Options
Itunes: https://apple.co/3POGMfl
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3hP7IPx
Watch an Introduction Video about TCH
Let's Connect!
Whether you're a corporation looking to Do Good with your excess inventory or a charity looking for a new fundraising opportunity, contact us to get the conversation started.
About The Charity Hub
The Charity Hub (TCH) offers a unique Triple Impact Liquidation Solution that helps companies support their corporate social responsibility and raise their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) profile by turning excess and unwanted inventory into charitable donations. As a Broker for Good, TCH makes it easy for global manufacturers, distributors, retailers, warehouses, and insurers to responsibly liquidate inventory by coordinating all logistics and sales and then donating 50% of TCH’s net profits to the suppliers’ preferred charity. In 18 months’ time, The Charity Hub has created close to $500,000 in charitable funds and prevented hundreds of trailer loads from ending up in landfills. Our expertise is moving inventory, our power is giving back. To learn more about turning excess into impact and liquidating for a good cause, contact The Charity Hub.