Community Radio Merchandising: A Potentially Cool Innovation

Recently, KOPN community radio launched its first of what amounts to a new marketing program. It is pretty innovative and we honestly have no idea if it will be a good idea or not, but there is almost no risk and it could be pretty cool.

Here's why we decided to do it:

• could increase sales
• could generate media coverage
• provides good reasons to communicate over social media
• the idea will appeal to a large portion of our membership and audience
• it contributes to our brand as a world contributor and sets us apart in that way, in line with our mission
• no significant risk or cost

To explain the idea, here is the press release we sent. Wish us luck!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017

CONTACT: SEAN SPENCE

sean@kopn.org; 573-823-1308

KOPN WILL LOAN STORE PROFITS TO DEVELOPING WORLD ENTREPRENEURS

Local radio station will use the Kiva.org online platform to make loans around the world

(Columbia, MO) KOPN – Columbia, Missouri’s community radio station – announced today that it will use profits from its online store to make loans to developing world entrepreneurs, using technology and loan processing systems provided by online lender Kiva.org. This change is effective immediately and will apply to all merchandise sales from the site (www.kopn.org/store/).

“We launched the store a few months ago and have been thinking about innovative ways to both support our non-profit efforts and benefit others throughout the world,” KOPN board president Dan Hemmelgarn said. “Kiva.org makes it very easy to leverage the relatively small amounts of money we make from the store to significantly impact the lives of those who really need our help. Thanks to Kiva.org, we can make the loans, and get most or all of the money back to put into our operations and expansion.”

KOPN provided this explanation of the Kiva.org service, from the Kiva.org website.

Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. We celebrate and support people looking to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, anyone can help a borrower start or grow a business, go to school, access clean energy or realize their potential. For some, it’s a matter of survival, for others it’s the fuel for a life-long ambition. 100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes to funding loans. Kiva covers costs primarily through optional donations, as well as through support from grants and sponsors.

“KOPN’s mission is to make our community and our world a better place,” KOPN general manager Sean Spence said. “Using our store in this way allows us to work with our members and others to make a difference for people who really need it, while supporting KOPN at the same time.”

In the coming weeks and months, KOPN plans to dramatically increase the variety of KOPN-branded merchandise available through its store in an effort to grow the program.

On the air since 1973, KOPN is Columbia’s community radio station, offering in-depth news, diverse talk, and music of the world. As a community radio station, KOPN is a hub of community activity and discussion, constantly seeking new ways to bring the community together and make it better. KOPN is available throughout Mid-Missouri on the radio at 89.5, and throughout the world via online streaming at www.kopn.org.