Goodwill Central Coast’s e-Commerce Team Back in Action and Shipping New Items Daily

1. Goodwill Central Coast’s e-Commerce Team Back in Action and Shipping New Items Daily While Feeding Into Nonprofit’s Mission of Creating Jobs Once again, there’s a buzz of activity on the top floor of the Goodwill Central Coast headquarters on Moffett Street in Salinas as Goodwill’s ecommerce team opens up operations again, listing and shipping new items daily. Salinas, CA, May 22, 2020 —Once again, there’s a buzz of activity on the top floor of the Goodwill Central Coastheadquarters on Moffett Street in Salinas as Goodwill’s ecommerce team opens up operations again, listing and shipping new items daily. Monterey County officials gave Goodwill formal permission to open again on April 30, and, on May 4, the operation began with a manager, assistant manager and four department heads. Three days later, 12 other full-time associates who had been furloughed were recalled.

2. “We are working on new enhancements in our ecommerce operations daily and expect a larger and more convenient process for our customers soon,” said Alan C. Martinson, Goodwill Central Coast vice president of retail. The e-commerce team sorts through the most coveted donated items to put up for sale at shopgoodwill.com. The website, which opened in July 2017, represents the first e-commerce auction platform created, owned and operated by a nonprofit. Goodwill designed the virtual marketplace to provide an engaging online shopping destination that would further the Goodwill mission. “It fits our mission, reinvesting in jobs,” said Martinson. “It’s effectively a job creator within a job creator.” Shoppers enjoy what Goodwill calls “guilt-free retail therapy,” knowing every purchase supports job training programs and promotes reuse, keeping items out of landfills and reducing the need for scarce natural resources. Martinson hand-picked the team, store associates with experience and a sharp eye who could cull specialty items from the tons of donations, separate them, tag them, photograph them, process them, upload them, and ship them — all in one facility. The Salinas team shipped 400 to 500 items each day, from gold jewelry to clothing, musical instruments and more, before the pandemic forced operations to close. At its height, jewelry and books were the biggest sellers on the site. Goodwill’s Mission Goodwill Central Coast builds lives, families and communities by helping people with employment needs become successful, supported by innovative enterprises that preserve earth’s resources. About Goodwill Central Coast Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs over 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 13,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work. Goodwill Central Coast 1566 Moffet Street Salinas, CA 93905

3. (831) 423-8611 https://www.ccgoodwill.org Contact: Marci Bracco Cain Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 747-7455 https://www.ccgoodwill.org