Management One calls on retailers to support Ukrainian refugees

By Kristin Ely

Retailers can donate unsold merchandise to a local drive or HAIS drop-off location.

Management One, a provider of merchandise intelligence for independent retailers has partnered with Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society to help provide clothing and supplies to Ukrainian refugees. HAIS is a four-star charity on Charity Navigator (best score possible) with 130 years of experience working around the world to protect refugees forced to flee their homelands.

Management One is asking retailers to donate aging, unsold apparel, footwear, and other inventory through HIAS sites or local community drives and other organizations which support the refugee crisis in your area.

“So many refugees are coming to America from Ukraine (and several parts of the world) with just the clothes on their backs,” Marc Weiss, CEO Management-One, says. “We thought we could help welcome them to America by reaching out to our retail clients and partners for clothing contributions. Retailers who are overstocked on unsold goods use a variety of outlets to move them out and make way for new, fresh merchandise. Why not donate them and support a worthy cause?”

The cause is close to Management One’s heart. The company has a colleague whose wife and her family are from Ukraine.

“Many members of her family are still there fighting for their country,” says Weiss. “We also have other synergistic partners who do business in Ukraine and are working with them to provide financial assistance.”

But that’s not the only motivation behind the effort, according to Weiss, “We have been in awe of the courage of the People of Ukraine. We wanted to do something that was a win-win. Retailers can impact their cost of goods to reduce their taxes and provide a source of need and comfort to those whose lives have been so tragically impacted.”

Management One is suggesting that retailers with any unsold or extra inventory in your store itemize the clothing, pack them up and send the items to the nearest HIAS facility or any place in your town that is holding a similar drive. The donations may be tax deductible, according to Weiss who recommends checking with an accountant.

For a list of drop-off locations, visit https://adobe.ly/3SwC5HM.

“Our goal is to see this catch on and grow organically across the retail community. Over the next few months, we will ask our partners to become involved,” says Weiss. “I plan on broadcasting this to our clients at our cocktail party at MAGIC to solicit their support. Our retailers have shown tremendous generosity and this is another great time to get involved.”