Funds Raised for Global Literacy:
$10,184,799.20
Books Re-Used or Recycled:
63,271,794

Xavier, Meet Pie

Posted by admin on 09.19.2008 at 11:07 am

Courtesy of Network admin, Nate, enjoy this YouTube video of co-founder Xavier getting a pie to the face (and some silly string) during a company presentation in South Bend from COO/co-founder Kreece.  Happy 30th birthday, X!

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FYS (For Your Shrine)

Posted by Jack on 07.17.2008 at 4:41 pm

For your Better World Books shrine (or for your dartboard if you’re the person that keeps vandalizing our Wikipedia page (I promise we weren’t named after a planet in a video game and we’re not an off-shore publicly traded company… sigh)), here is the latest photo of all the Better World Books employees at the Green House (save my boss, who was gallivanting about Florida or some such thing (just kidding, please don’t make me clean the office again)):

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Community Outreach Day!

Posted by admin on 07.14.2008 at 2:53 pm

On June 19th, BWB wrapped up their week of annual meetings.  This is a time where all employees meet at the warehouse and review the past fiscal year and make plans and goals for the following year.  It is a long week of collaboration, discussion, learning, and sharing.

We wanted to do something that would sum up all the wonderful things we discussed throughout the week and emphasize our spirit of team work, and community involvement.  In an effort to follow our hearts and do something that makes a difference but at the same time challenge us and be enjoyed, we decided to spend the 19th as the first ever company wide BWB Community Outreach Day!


(Casey, head of Pricing, taking “Outreach” a little too seriously)

Locally, our offices in NY, GA, and CA have done things in their respective communities.  We here at the warehouse have also become more involved with the community through green festivals and literacy groups, but we had never done something to this large a scale. We opened up the activities to anyone that wanted to join.  With over 100 employees and 5 different destinations, it was a logistical challenge to say the least.  However, we had the most perfect weather, local school buses to transport us around, and wonderful organizations to join.  It is amazing what you can get done, when everyone pitches in!

Over 100 employees from the warehouse, Georgia, California, New York, Texas, North Carolina, Minnesota, Illinois, and Pennsylvania joined in the fun.


(the first round of 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall)

First Stop:  Habitat for Humanity was finishing up a project close to the warehouse.  They had built a house for a family, and had landscaping, a garage, and interior work to still be done.  28 BWB employees spent the day completing the project and the hammering never stopped!!!


Kreece doing Quality Control on a decidedly non-six sigma job


(Hippie) sod tilling, courtesy of Abby


Everyone putting up a frame, not just an Amish thing!

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2nd Stop:  Northern Indiana Food Pantry is a distribution center for many of the local food banks.  45 employees from BWB broken out over 3 shifts went to work sorting food, checking dates, and helping Northern Indiana Food Pantry prepare to distribute many pallets of food to locations throughout the area.Competition broke out over the 3 shifts as to which team sorted the most and judges are still out on that decision!

3rd Stop:  Habitat for Humanity ReStores are retail locations where Habitat sells those materials they recycle from their job sites and resell to support all their good work.  12 employees went to work at the local store here in town.  They were put to work setting up displays, moving product and helping to sort and stock.  The “do-it-yourself” types on staff will be making this store one of their stops when completing another project at home…everyone should!  They have some incredible things you won’t be able to find anywhere else.  Look for these stores near you as well:

http://www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore.aspx

4th Stop:  City of Mishawaka local parks are something the city takes pride in and they give us welcomed “green space” that our employees as well as others in the community enjoy.  50 workers were dispatched to weed, lay down mulch and pick up debris in some of our area parks keeping up our commitment to the environment.

5th and final Stop:  Literacy Council of St. Joseph County is one of our favorite local groups.  BWB employees have not only volunteered for their adult tutoring program, but we went to work to help them tackle some outstanding tasks at their office in downtown Mishawaka.  4 staff members went over to help with filing, cleaning out closets, setting up bookshelves and packaging up children’s “giveaway” packets complete with books and learning material.

BWB appreciates all these organizations, their hard work and how they contribute to the community.  We wish to thank them all for letting us join in.  Not only did it give the employees here at BWB a day out of the warehouse and fun times spent with coworkers, we were also able to pitch in and help the community.  There isn’t a better way to spend the day!

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

It’s Business Time

Posted by Jack on 06.19.2008 at 5:52 pm

This week will be reports and pictures from the Better World Books Warehouse (or “Green House” as we know it) in South Bend as we conduct our yearly meeting week.

“It’s business, it’s business tiiiime.”  OK, so we didn’t have Flight of the Conchords, but what we did have was some ideas that are going to blow your doors off, no question.  We’ve got great new moves happening with new ways to get books and new ways to get money for our partners.  Further we’ll be working on more ways to maximize your savings, getting you better books, cheaper.  More updates on those things as we roll them out (OK, I’ll tell you before anyone else, but sssshhhhh)

Yesterday we spent tons of time in department meetings and then had updates between departments and to suggest that people are excited really doesn’t scratch the surface.  However, fatigue after a week of meetings was setting in, so last night we had to unwind.  After checking out a new surprise (can’t tell you yet, I want to so bad but I can’t!) we rocked karaoke including a rousing “Under the Bridge” from founder Xavier, a dominant (and prize winning) performance from Brad, and most notably instead of “The Online Bookstore with a Soul” the Atlanta office made sure we were “The Online Bookstore with Soul.”  Perfect.  After I rocked a Jay-Z track (I’ve got 99 problems but a blog ain’t one…) we were off.

Today we had a day of service that was simply awesome.  I’ll let Rudy write about it and show you his photo taking prowess later in the week…

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Sore Back-Back Home-Home Runs

Posted by Jack on 06.17.2008 at 7:57 am

This week will be reports and pictures from the Better World Books Warehouse (or “Green House” as we know it) in South Bend as we conduct our yearly meeting week.

Sorry about the title, I think I’ve been watching too much “Wheel of Fortune” so the “Before and After” thing was in my head…  In any event, let me explain:

When I was hired, eons ago Abby Rae LaCombe (current Rocky Mountain + Canada RD) and I cruised to the Green House and were instructed in the ways of the force, errrr book acquisitions and company policies.  But also, to make sure we understood the challenges of working in the warehouse we spent a day scanning books (a monumental task, each person here scans 110-160 per hour!) and sorting heavy boxes, and let me tell you, I was sore afterwards.  Coming back and seeing “job sharing” on the schedule I was slightly concerned for how I’d feel like an old man tomorrow trying to get myself out of bed.

After getting out we were ready for fresh air and rolled over to the local park with refreshments and a grill, but most importantly, large red balls for KICKBALL!  The showdowns were fierce, the refreshments were cold and seeing everyone was fantastic.  After I was assaulted by a young assassin with a water gun and schooled on the kickball field (notice the picture below, who hurts their shoulder playing kickball???  I seriously must suck), I decided it was time to stick to the grill area and engage in Better World Books #1 out-of-work pastime, ultimate frisbee.

It feels good to be back “home,” if only for a week.  Burning the candle at both ends… commence!


(The Acquisitions Team (Atlanta, represent!) fresh off drinking the company kool-aid in the veritable “War Room,” emails and calls their contacts, furiously trying to get books in)

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A Well Oiled Machine

Posted by Jack on 06.17.2008 at 7:33 am

This week will be reports and pictures from the Better World Books Warehouse (or “Green House” as we know it) in South Bend as we conduct our yearly meeting week.

To see a well-oiled machine do its job is truly a marvel.  It sounds cliche, perhaps it sounds like a vacuous statement when were so inundated with machinery and technology in our own lives from iPhones to disposals to a little hot water in the shower, but the fact remains that there’s something about a fine tuned apparatus that catches the eye and the imagination.

The Green House presented two great versions of this to me today.  On one hand, I saw the packaging machine, which is pretty mesmerizing.  It takes thousands of orders each day and cranks them out under the careful supervision of a number of finely trained employees.  It’s definitely a unique sight (that I’ve included below for your enjoyment).

But more amazing is how we’ve created a system incorporating ideas from Toyota’s and Motorola’s plants referred to in the business world as “Six Sigma.”  I won’t get into the specifics but I have to say watching the whole warehouse work is amazing.  Hundreds of people working as the proverbial bees in the hive–and let me tell you the Green House buzzes–each with individual tasks all working together to get you your books, as fas as possible, as cheap as we can and in the best condition that we can offer.


West Coast Director, Natasha Harris, looking regal as per usual

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

Better World Books Week!

Posted by Jack on 06.16.2008 at 10:13 am

Hey all, reporting here from BWB week in the lovely (and warm) South Bend, IN.  Today we outsiders will be getting tours of the revamped warehouse and doing some warehouse related work.  Pictures and stories coming throughout the week, it’s sure to be good.  Already, having played a bit of billiards last night with my amigos in acquisitions and a subsequent delicious breakfast at the pancake house, it’s good to be back and sure to only get better (especially at company kickball tonight when Team Gold owns Team Green!)

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