Jerry and I are both retired and living upon planned retirement funds just as every other retired couple does. We'd spend a lot of time on our computers regardless of what our interests are, but because Northcoast Greyhounds is a small business, we are able to deduct their cost from our income taxes. Same with office supplies. And travel to events. And hotels and car rentals. And trips to San Francisco to shop for jewelry! Etc. etc. etc. Part of our home and all our greyt entertainment- paid from our pockets but deductible from income taxes because we love greyhounds. Is that cool, or what??

The unique products we offer earn all the money we are able to contribute and it doesn't make sense to give them away for events - here's the reasoning behind that thought:

A single designer pendant, purchased among others, may cost $100 wholesale and would be purchased during a three-day business trip to San Francisco. Gas for 600 miles, food, and lodging would all be charged to our personal credit card and the pendant to NCG's card. Upon return from SF, I'd order silver greyhounds ($500-3,000 at a time, also on the NCG card), from our casters for all those purchases. When the order arrives I'd spend an evening introducing silver dog to pendant, and perhaps 5 more dogs to 5 more pendants using $5 diamond drill bits. And again the next night. And the next nght, and....

If website sales have performed as hoped for, at this point everything is paid for, and the pendant is ready to offer for sale at retail price. If I were to contribute the jewel itself, I'd merely have spun my wheels traveling, ordering, drilling and gluing, and I'd no longer have the pendant to offer customers. This would mean I'd have to head back to San Francisco and start from scratch to replace it. Obviously, I'd rather sell that pendant for its retail value and send a deductible cash contribution for that larger amount to a 501(c)3 organization, allowing outgoing contributions to balance NCG income.

Keeping the website new and irresistible to assure customers will return is an expensive and time-consuming effort. Considering the amount of stock necessary to do this, to present regular Friday auctions, and take to events like Dewey, the NCG credit card is a large monthly obligation which must be paid off totally each month- or we'd not be able to shop the following month! We need the income from each piece to both buy more and to give away- this is a cyclical process!

The new refund raffles have made a positive difference in the amount we're able to contribute to groups since it's basically cash in - cash out to the beneficiary. The cost of the item offered, and all the PayPal and credit card fees are paid for by Northcoast Greyhounds' website sales.

So you see, Northcoast Greyhounds is not your usual vendor,
and we're not a 501(c)3 organization....
...rather, we're a "not-for-profit" enterprise contributing 100% of what we earn. We're actually spending personal funds to raise greyhound funds - all with the payoff of providing purpose to our retirement.... and to our lives. In the process, we have had the most wonderful companions and are making the most wonderful friends... isn't life greyt?!

There you have it- hope it makes sense to you!
Thanks for reading. Now, wouldn't you like to shop???