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HOUSTON GIRL, AGE 9, TEAMS WITH CHARITY TO SAVE ANIMALS “Youngsterpreneur” Launches Sales Events With Local Merchants

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HOUSTON — JANUARY 24, 2008 — Nine-year-old Houston resident and "youngsterpreneur" Dara Rose Dember executed her latest marketing strategy January 19 by partnering with a local charity, Friends for Life, to sell her handmade polished-wood-and-turquoise bracelets at upscale retailer Whole Earth Provision Company on Houston’s Shepherd Drive near West Alabama Street. Dara shares the proceeds with Friends for Life, a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter and pet adoption service.

“I think every creature has the right to live and I really love supporting that,” Dara said. “I also like earning money in my own business. Last summer it was lemonade, but now it’s these really nice bracelets.” She began selling the bracelets as a sideline at her sidewalk lemonade stand. Now they’re her main line. With them, Dara is doing well by doing good.

Dara’s dad and business coach, Ira Dember, created the opportunity by securing a supply of small, polished wood slats pre-drilled for stringing as jewelry parts. “We got them through National Trade Banc,” he said. “It’s an online marketplace for surplus goods and services, where businesses buy and sell using trade dollars instead of cash.” Dember helped launch National three years ago. Now, he said, it’s one of the largest commercial networks of its kind.

Dember fronted trade dollars for the wood parts plus cash for Dara to buy turquoise beads and other supplies. But Dara is paying her own way: a portion of each sale goes to repay startup loans. While net proceeds are shared with Friends for Life, Dara explained that the benefit works both ways. “When people see me working for a cause I believe in,” she said, “they are usually more willing to help me. And I think maybe some people are also more willing to buy my bracelets.”

Dara plans to stage Friends for Life benefit sales events at other locations around Houston, “wherever I’m invited,” she added, “and where there are enough people shopping.” Dara also wants to start selling her bracelets online. Youngsterpreneurs.com (under construction) will have a link to an online store offering Dara’s bracelets. “I hope soon,” she said.

Dara’s bracelets are currently priced at $10 for polished wood or $15 for wood with turquoise.

Just days after Dara sealed the deal for her first sales event, Entrepreneur magazine published an article urging businesses to energize their marketing by partnering with charitable causes—“exactly what Dara has done,” said her dad. "We're proud of her!"

About Dara Rose Dember
In addition to enjoying business, Dara Rose Dember is a committed vegetarian, supporter of animal rights, and Webkinz fan. She and her older brothers take care of Sophie, a mixed breed, “but my mom thinks she has a lot of Carolina dog in her,” Dara says.

About Friends for Life
Friends for Life (nokill1.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has saved hundreds of animals through innovative adoption, rescue, rehabilitation, pet retention and animal food bank programs. Its education program shows young people that “compassion is cool” while spotlighting ways to make the world better for both people and animals.

About National Trade Banc
National Trade Banc (nationaltradebanc.com) and its extensive online marketplace help thousands of businesses and self-employed individuals sell their surplus goods and services for the best price, capture new customers, and conserve cash by enabling participants to spend “trade dollars” to buy what they need.

About Whole Earth Provision Company
Whole Earth Provision Company is a specialty retailer in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio offering a broad array of quality, innovative products for people who love learning about, experiencing, preserving and enjoying Planet Earth.