LOS ANGELES (Oct. 2010) – Where is it written a business venture shouldn’t also help build community while creating commerce? Well, according to the team at the newly launched company Wigibuy, NOWHERE! The new social commerce site which is launching this November in Los Angeles and Las Vegas is throwing its hat into the hot segment by offering daily deals and deep discounts for goods, services and social/cultural experiences. However, Wigibuy is also doing it with a community twist: the company will donate five percent of total sales in each market to a local charity every month.

Wigibuy is the brainchild of the Wagner/Junker Agency and Synthesis (marketing, advertising, public relations and digital media gurus). With extensive careers in entertainment and hospitality marketing, along with a long history of working with big brands and local businesses on all facets of their marketing initiatives, the Wigibuy team is uniquely qualified to deliver the deals to potential customers, but more importantly, they will also work with individual businesses to determine the best offers, create limitations on each deal so it works for the individual business and develop the right message to effectively entice a potential customer/guest.

“What has been missing from the social commerce business model is the ability to tailor make the offer so the business does not become overwhelmed at too deep of a discount,” explains Jeff Wagner, principal and partner, Wigibuy. “While selling goods and services is paramount, we want to do it thoughtfully and be flexible to work with each client to address their needs. We don’t want a great sales opportunity to turn into a negative cash-flow issue for our clients and we realize there will be a big difference in how a large company uses our service compared to a more local business. While working with Peter Morton overseeing all of the Hard Rock Café’s worldwide marketing efforts, I learned how important and fulfilling it could be to tie your company to great causes. With the addition of our charity partnerships, we believe we have created a true win/win proposition. Our fundraising will be transparent, real and the five percent will be coming from Wigibuy’s percentage of sales—this way the client, the customer and the charity all win. We are extremely excited to be launching with the Hollywood Arts Council’s program to bring art education to schools (Project S.O.A.R), as well as with the Nevada Cancer Institute in Las Vegas.”

The idea to use Wigibuy as a community fundraiser was an easy one for the Wigibuy team. “We decided that Wigibuy had to have a commitment to responsible business development, while seeking a meaningful impact in each community that we serve,” notes Bill Fishkin, principal and partner, Wigibuy. “Today, it is extremely difficult for charities and organizations to raise money via traditional efforts, and it has been reported that it is the worst it’s been in more than 40 years; with Wigibuy, everyone gets to join in—the customers feel good knowing they are raising money while bringing their dollars to a local business, and the businesses which are offering the Wigibuy deal not only drive immediate sales, they literally raise money for charity as they do it.”

In addition to focusing on major metropolitan areas, Wigibuy will also focus on launching in secondary markets so that customers in smaller cities can reap the same benefits that their friend’s in the big cities are already enjoying daily. With a beta-test of Wigibuy already in motion in Chico, Calif., the Wigibuy team has seen first-hand how they can help with local municipal events such as air shows, food festivals and rodeos—all while helping important organizations in Chico such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Enlo Foundation and the Butte Humane Society. The Las Vegas launch will be in conjunction with the Nevada Cancer Institute and Los Angeles will work with the Hollywood Arts Council.

Social commerce sites featuring deals of the day are setting new sales records by driving customers to local businesses. With the upcoming launch of Wigibuy, not only will the consumer choices grow, but also now everyone can buy stuff and feel good. It will give consumers the opportunity to do something good every day. The charity component is another significant difference in the way in which Wigibuy will conduct their business. “With the staggering amounts of sales that sites like Groupon are already generating, we felt both the charity and smaller market focus were extremely important components to bring to Wigibuy,” adds Eric Junker., principal and partner, Wigibuy. “It is our hope each month we are delivering big checks to great organizations in every city where Wigibuy is doing business.”

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