Rolling out the Red Carpet

Posted by Rudy on 10.20.2008 at 12:00 pm

Here at the Greenhouse, we get a lot of visitors from near and far; and, let me tell you, it never gets old. In fact, it’s one of the things that I enjoy most about being based here in Mishawaka. Among our recent guests were the Ambassador of Malawi to the United States and the Honorable Joe Donnelly of Indiana’s Second Congressional District.

Most recently, we received a visit from our local public television, WNIT, and their awesome program Outdoor Elements. Host Evie Kirkwood, who also serves as the director of our county park system, brought a film crew to tape a segment for the program which will air in Feburary 2009.

We walked our distribution center for about an hour, exploring all of the ways in which our little company in the corn fields has really embraced its sustainbility focused mission. From waste recycling to our co-op garden to our committment to reuse just about everything that we come in contact with (including our shelving and furniture), there was plenty into which to sink our teeth. I’m actually curious to see what will air during the short, 10-minute segment, given that we must have filmed more than 45 minutes worth! I’ll be sure to update you when the segment is available.

1 Comment » | Tagged Dispatches from the Green House, Dispatches from the Green House, indiana, Joe Donnelly, Mishawaka, Rudy Reyes Jr., Visitors, WNIT

Welcome to Better World Books Letter

Posted by Jack on 10.09.2008 at 11:07 am

Courtesy of Mallory Meuninck, here’s an excerpt from our letter to new employees:

Welcome!

You have the tremendous opportunity to become a member of the BWB team.  Together with a dedicated group of individuals you will have the privledge, of working to accomplish common goals and make a positive impact for literacy in our world.

Every day you will carefully pick and ship books out to eager customers, allowing them to navigate the expanse of the universe, embark on a quest of self-discovery, converse with mythical creatures and broaden the depths of their minds.

Along with this you will be the first face a newly arrived book will see before being placed on our shelves waiting for their loving home.

Standards[...]

Above all, we seek to flabbergast our customers.

While here, you are a protector of dreams.  You are the mightiest of dragons, guarding a vast treasure.  Customers from lands near and far will open one of our packages, filled, by you, and they will be overwhelmed with joy, anticipation, and excitement.

Have your say » | Tagged Dispatches from the Green House, Dispatches from the Green House, letters, welcome to better world books

Discovering the Value of Us

Posted by Rudy on 09.29.2008 at 4:00 pm

For the next ten weeks, my more than 200 co-workers and I will be celebrating the very best of one another through each of Better World Books’ core values.

1. We ♥ Books. Respect the book. Read often and help others to do the same.
2. Flabbergast our Customers. Seek out opportunities to make a difference with value, service, and selection.
3. Invest well. Waste not. Choose wisely; consider the return on your efforts and the impact in your actions. Reuse, reuse, reuse… Then reduce and recycle.
4. Lead the movement. Take a stand; share your enthusiasm and build momentum through human connections.
5. Speak through action. Put your ideas to work; play to win but never fear failure.
6. Be passionate. Wear your heart on your sleeve; stand up for what your believe.
7. Pursue growth through learning. Challenge yourself; make a point to try new things.
8. Be genuine. Keep it real; be honest with others and true to your quirktastic self.
9. Embrace change. Adapt to circumstances; help others find ways to succeed in our evolving world.
10. Respect our team. Be humble; welcome diversity and recognize that shared success is the only kind that matters.

To get things started, the Antiquarian, Rare, and Collectible Books Team performed an original composition by cataloguer Carol Devorkin entitled “I Am ARC”…

Read more…

Have your say » | Tagged Dispatches from the Green House, Antiquarian Rare and Collectible, core values, Dispatches from the Green House, original poetry, Rudy Reyes Jr.

The Warehouse and Payments

Posted by admin on 10.22.2007 at 7:25 am

Here’s a photo of our team at work getting the hundreds of student group payments together for mailing.

Thanks, warehouse, for all the hard work in getting these out!

Have your say » | Tagged Dispatches from the Green House, Dispatches from the Green House, payments

Green for All Initiative

Posted by admin on 10.03.2007 at 7:35 am

I am excited to share with you some news regarding Better World Books’ support of “Green for All”.   See this from Brad Weirich, Employee Development Manager, who will be involved with this effort going forward (representing Better World Books):

Green for All, a new campaign focused on bringing “green collar” jobs to urban areas, launched on Friday, September 26th, at the Clinton Global Initiative.  The group, created by Van Jones, Co-Founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, seeks to capitalize on the exploding green economy while ensuring that the coming green economic wave impacts on more than one level.

The Green for All campaign is a bold effort to harness the growing power of the green economic revolution to fight the war on poverty.  By securing job training for 250,000 workers from urban communities for the emerging green job market, the program will provide new avenues of opportunity for those who have traditionally been left behind by the nation’s economic growth.

Green for All was launched with the support of over 200 businesses and organizations, including Better World Books.

If you would like to see the full press release, please go here

Have your say » | Tagged Dispatches from the Green House, Impact, david murphy, Dispatches from the Green House, environmental impact, green for all