PRESS RELEASE

May 11, 2015

Contact: Justina Janas (916) 491-3161 or Lucy Eidam Crocker (916) 715-1165 – Crocker & Crocker

WEAVE™ launches new approach to revenue generation

Newly appointed advisory board to grow retail operations

WEAVE™ is pleased to announce the appointment of a new retail advisory board that will focus on the expansion of retail operations.  Through this new effort WEAVE™ hopes to increase funding for their mission critical programs and services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

 “I’m pleased with the all-star team of business leaders we selected to help us with the important task of diversifying the agency’s funding portfolio,” said WEAVE™ Board of Directors Chair Garry Maisel, President and CEO of Western Health Health Advantage. “We chose representatives from retail, accounting, marketing and public relations backgrounds to make up our newly formed WEAVE™ Retail Advisory Board.”

For the past seven years, WEAVE™ has absorbed substantial and sustained cuts in government funding for services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.  The organization has relied on community support to shore up the losses and ensure the need for mission critical programs and services remained stabilized.  As the landscape continues to change, the WEAVE™ Retail Advisory Board will focus on building a sustainable business model that includes an expansion of retail operations. 

Currently, there is one retail store, WEAVEWorks, at 2401 Arden Way in Sacramento. Focus group research, led by new WEAVE Retail Advisory Board Chair Lucy Eidam Crocker, showed strong support for more options to donate clothing and support services for victims. There was also strong interest in the concept of buying and trading fashion forward clothing to benefit WEAVE’s lifesaving programs.

“The focus groups discussed the strength of WEAVE’s brand and the desire to support WEAVE’s mission of supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. We are using the research results to succinctly address the demand for more ways to participate in donations of clothing, shoes, purses and accessories,” Eidam Crocker said. “We will also rolling out a new program for business partners to support our donation programs soon.”

Recent qualitative research also identified several locations in Sacramento are excellent for a new store. Following the research with empty nesters, donors and millennials/young professionals, WEAVE decided the time is right to expand the retail segment. Announcements about expansion plans for WEAVE’s are coming soon.

About WEAVE

Established in 1978, WEAVE is Sacramento’s oldest and most comprehensive domestic violence agency and sole Rape Crisis Center. WEAVE works to build a community that does not tolerate domestic violence and sexual assault and provides survivors with the support they need to be safe and thrive. The agency provides in-person and telephone support to more than 12,000 survivors each year. To learn more, go to www.weaveinc.org.

Introducing the WEAVE Retail Advisory Board

Chair: Lucy Eidam Crocker, President, Crocker & Crocker

Vice Chair: Oana York, Market Manager, VSP Global

Roseann Webber, Retired, Senior Project Manager

Cindy Ward, Retired, CFO, California Hospital Association

Rachel Arendt, Business Owner, Re Love It

Patrick Brousseau, President, Julius Clothing

Alicia Leupp Hanley, Account Supervisor, Runyon Saltzman Einhorn, Inc.

Lori Rianda, Senior Vice President, Market Manager, Bank of America

Linda Tucker, Media and Communications Officer, City of Sacramento

Scott Wolcott, Owner, Wolcott Consulting

Beth Hassett, Ex Officio, Executive Director, WEAVE™