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WebThriftStore Selected to Speak at SXSW Interactive Festival
[December 04, 2013]

WebThriftStore Selected to Speak at SXSW Interactive Festival


NEW YORK, NY, Dec 04, 2013 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- WebThriftStore, a leading online charity fundraising platform, today announced that it has been selected to present during South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive 2014. "Doing Good and Making Money" will explore how nonprofits are utilizing the Internet and social media to engage donors in new ways to raise money for the causes about which they care most.



The SXSW Interactive Festival will take place March 7-11, 2014 in Austin, Texas. An incubator of cutting edge technologies (that helped Twitter, GroupMe and FourSquare take off), it features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders, and a lineup of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games, and startup ideas. SXSW Interactive has become "the place" to experience a preview of what is unfolding in the world of technology, who's hot, and what's hot.

"This is an honor and important milestone in the lifecycle of WebThriftStore," said Doug Krugman, Founder & CEO of WebThriftStore.


"Only a small percentage of companies were selected to present from over 3,300 applicants," said Mr. Krugman.

New online platforms like WebThriftStore are being leveraged more and more to find untapped sources of revenue for charities. With WebThriftStore, charities can promote an environmentally friendly activity -- redistributing unused goods -- raising both awareness and money at the same time. Charities get the benefit of listing items donated into WebThriftStore's nationwide online marketplace, which currently consists of 30 charity partners and over 5,000,000 individual charity supporters. When an item sells, the majority of its proceeds are directed to the charity of the donor's choice.

"Over the last few years, nonprofits have realized that their traditional supporter bases are aging and that they need to engage with the younger generation in ways they are used to communicating, like social media," said Mr. Krugman. "WebThriftStore is at the forefront of emerging trends in charity fundraising. We provide a new way for people to support charities, without giving cash, by donating their excess stuff. And we guide nonprofits in reaching out to supporters through new communication channels like social media." There are 114 million households in the United States. Last year, 88% gave to charity. If every household donated just $100 worth of items to charity via WebThriftStore, an $11 billion marketplace is created.

About WebThriftStore WebThriftStore allows any nonprofit to set up an online thrift store without holding physical inventory and with no financial risk. We turn excess stuff into cash for charities, tax deductions for donors, and bargains for shoppers. It's a way for shoppers and charity supporters to do good, and for charities to engage supporters without asking for money. Item donors receive tax receipts for 100 percent of the value of their donations, prepaid shipping labels, free shipping supplies, and free pickup from the United States Postal Service (USPS). Any registered 501(c)(3) charity can partner with WebThriftStore to open its own dedicated online store, with no up-front or subscription fees. WebThriftStore is privately owned and is headquartered in New York City.

About the SXSW Interactive Festival The 21st annual SXSW Interactive Festival returns to Austin from Friday, March 7 through Tuesday, March 11. An incubator of cutting-edge technologies and digital creativity, the 2014 event features five days of compelling presentations and panels from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable lineup of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer. From hands-on training to big-picture analysis of the future, SXSW Interactive has become the place to preview the technology of tomorrow, today. Join us in March 2014 for the sessions, the networking, the evening events, the 17th Annual SXSW Interactive Awards, SXSW Accelerator, the SXSW Gaming Expo, the SXSW Trade Show, SXSW Create, the Digital Creative Job Market, cross-industry conversations with attendees from SXSW Film and SXSW Music, and, most of all, the unforgettable inspirational experiences that only SXSW can deliver. SXSW Interactive 2014 is sponsored by Miller Lite, Monster Energy, Esurance, Chevrolet, AT&T, IFC, The Austin Chronicle, American Express and Deloitte Consulting.

Shop for bargains: http://www.webthriftstore.com/search Donate items: http://www.webthriftstore.com/donatestart Email us at [email protected] Twitter: http://twitter.com/WebThriftStore Facebook: http://facebook.com/WebThriftStore Press Contact:  Michael Gambacorta Director, Marketing (866) 925-2324 ext. 003 [email protected] SOURCE: WebThriftStore mailto:[email protected]

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