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Daily Hampshire Gazette Features Jamie Caplan
February 22nd, 2010
Jamie Caplan
Job title and company: Founder and president, GivingPreparedness, Northampton, www.givingpreparedness.com [1]
Age: 43
Your duties: My favorite part of the job is working with customers. I like discussing people’s risks and helping them to understand how they can mitigate those risks. I’m proud that I can offer a product to meet their needs. I also love to research and experiment with new products as we develop additional gift boxes. In terms of my day-to-day work, I do a bit of everything – from customer service, to product development and marketing. I surround myself with a great team of local experts who provide support for shipping, Web design and bookkeeping.
How did you land your job? I have two kids, six pets, aging parents and a business. I began to realize that, like me, many people have these responsibilities as well as a desire to get prepared. GivingPreparedness is the answer for busy people and businesses who know they should prepare for disasters but don’t have the time or the know-how to get started. I created this job as a way to use my expertise in emergency management to help small businesses and citizens prepare for disasters.
What’s most challenging about your work? I have my hand in everything, which is challenging. Yet, it is also what I most love about being an entrepreneur. Because I juggle many aspects of the business, I take the time to keep the big picture in mind. That seems to help.
What is your key to success? I sell a unique and quality product in three sizes: safe, safer and safest to meet the needs of a large customer base. I am honest with and respectful of customers, vendors and co-workers and I combine this with a strong work ethic and a ton of persistence. It all adds up to a chance for success.
Why did you choose to do business in the Valley? We cannot stop winter storms from creating hazardous conditions, nor can we prevent hurricane strength winds from knocking down trees and power lines. However, we can prepare our loved ones and our customers for these and other disasters that may come their way. For example, we can post the Poison Control Number (1-800-222-1222) near telephones and we can have first aid supplies on hand to treat minor injuries.
Who has helped mentor you professionally? I have the pleasure of working with many national experts in the field of emergency management. Several of them have mentored me professionally. My mom is a great role model. When I was growing up she ran her own business and raised two kids. She seemed to juggle everything with incredible efficiency and a good sense of humor.
Name a few of your goals for the coming year: GivingPreparedness is not just about sending emergency supplies such as flashlights, energy bars and emergency stickers; it is about education. Each of our boxes comes with information about how to prepare for and respond to a disaster. This year I want to expand the reach of GivingPreparedness and document success stories detailing how our products have helped those who use them. I would like to see GivingPreparedness Gift Boxes sold in veterinary offices and I would like to see real estate agents and automobile dealers give them as gifts to their customers.
Tell us a little-known fact about you: I do the Daily Jigsaw Puzzle on the Addicting Games Web site every morning before I start work.
What is your advice to others seeking business success? The Valley is full of resources. Utilizing these resources benefits our entire community. I recently joined the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and I’m taking advantage of all it has to offer.
Links:
[1] http://www.givingpreparedness.com
We Joined OpenSky
February 19th, 2010
OpenSky is an online marketplace. They call it Modern Main Street. Basically, it’s an online mall of unique products recommended by some very well respected bloggers and professionals. We now have a shop at OpenSky which you can visit at http://givingpreparedness.theopenskyproject.com. And we have become a supplier to OpenSky, which means our gift boxes are in other shops on the site as well.
I encourage you to take a look. We’re happy to have joined and view it as a unique opportunity toward our quest to get safety supplies into the hands of as many people as possible.
Taking the Kids — And Buying Some Gifts for the Traveling Family
January 5th, 2010
“If you are the kind of family traveler who always has what you need in a first-aid kit, put one together for the family heading out on their first “big” trip. (Also check www.givingpreparedness.com for emergency supply kits for the car.)”
The above quote is from a Fox 59 report dated December 10, 2009.
Emergency Gift Boxes Offered
January 5th, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010, the Daily Hampshire Gazette featured an article about GivingPreparedness. The article is titled, “Emergency Gift Boxes Offered.” The article appeared on the front page of the Business section.
Northampton resident and emergency preparedness expert Jamie Caplan has launched GivingPreparedness.com to make it easy for people to give the gift of safety.
GivingPreparedness.com is an online store of emergency preparedness gift boxes for home, car and pets. The gift boxes contain emergency essentials that people need to keep their family and pets safe for the first 72 hours of an emergency, including items such as a pouch of water, food bars, first aid kits and emergency light sticks.
The gift boxes can be ordered by individuals and in bulk by businesses. GivingPreparedness.com also features Caplan’s blog, with emergency preparedness information and an email sign-up for a free family emergency plan.
Caplan, a 20-year emergency management veteran, consutlant for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a mom, said she created GivingPreparedness.com to make it easy for busy families to take responsibility for themselves in getting and giving essential emergency supplies. For more information, visit her Web site or call 586-0867.
140 Last Minute Gift Ideas for Clients – #44 Give the Gift of Safety
December 15th, 2009
The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur featured us as unique Gift Idea #44 in today’s blog post.
Show your clients you truly care about them and give them the gift of safety. Our gift boxes include emergency essentials that people need to keep their family and pets safe for the first 72 hours of a disaster or other emergency, whether in a house or in a car. GivingPreparedness.com offers three types of emergency preparedness gift boxes: Ready Home, Ready Auto and Ready Dog. A disaster can happen at any time your customers will remember you were there to help them.
View the 140 Last minute Gift Ideas here
Gifting Peace of Mind: Holiday Gifts that Can Save Lives
December 9th, 2009In a recent press release, FEMA pointed to Holiday Gifts that Increase Preparedness. FEMA assembled the list of gift ideas as a way to help people begin to prepare and to help their families and friends along the way.
“Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere and the holiday season provides a great opportunity to ensure that you and your loved ones are taking simple steps to be prepared,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “As families gather this holiday season, I encourage everyone to take a few minutes and discuss what you would do in case of an emergency or disaster. The public is the most important member of our nation’s emergency response team and the more the public does to be prepared, the more successful this team will be.”
Acting FEMA Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger encouraged Americans to give the gift of safety. “Disaster-ready gifts can save lives, and are a wonderful way of welcoming in 2010,” said Hunsinger. “Helping to better prepare neighbors, friends and loved ones for emergencies is a great way to say ‘I care.’”
The press release continues to name emergency and preparedness items that might make great gifts this Holiday Season including:
- Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits; food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours; i.e., extra clothing, blankets, and flashlights).
- NOAA weather radios with extra batteries.
- Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class.
- Smoke detectors.
- Fire extinguishers (for kitchen, garage, car, etc.)
- Foldable ladders for second-story escape in a fire.
- Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights and fluorescent distress flags).
- Pet Disaster kits (food, water, leashes, dishes and carrying case or crate).
- Battery powered lamps
I’m proud that the mission of Giving Preparedness is so closely aligned with that of FEMA’s. It is my goal to get disaster supplies and information into the hands of as many people as possible.
Northampton Resident Offers Emergency Preparedness Kits
December 4th, 2009
As seen in the Daily Hampshire Gazette on December 3, 2009
Northampton resident and emergency preparedness expert Jamie Caplan has launched GivingPreparedness.com to make it easy for people to give the gift of safety.
GivingPreparedness.com is an online store of emergency preparedness gift boxes for the home, car and for pets.
These gift boxes contain emergency essentials for people and pets for the first 72 hours of an emergency, including pouch water, food bars, first-aid kits, emergency light sticks and more. They can be ordered for family and friends, or for businesses.
GivingPreparedness.com also features Caplan’s blog about emergency safety.
Caplan is a 20-year emergency management veteran and consultant for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For more information, go online to www.GivingPreparedness.com, or call 586-0867.