NEW YORK, April 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LivePerson, a
global leader in conversational AI, and the Dream Big Foundation
today announced the launch of HelpOthers.io, a new digital gift
card marketplace letting consumers prepay for goods and services to
help their favorite small businesses stay financially sound until
they can reopen their doors.
With social distancing becoming the new normal and people around
the world doing their best to keep their neighbors safe from
COVID-19 by staying at home, small businesses that rely on foot
traffic are struggling to pay their bills and their employees.
Without their customers' help, millions of barbershops, salons,
yoga studios, restaurants, dry cleaners, coffee shops, and
boutiques may not survive.
HelpOthers.io helps make a difference by allowing any small
business to easily take secure payments from the customers who love
them. Businesses that sign-up at HelpOthers.io can create listings
to allow customers to find them and purchase digital gift cards,
with no need to mail physical cards or documentation.
HelpOthers.io is assisted by "Nicholas," an AI-powered messaging
bot named for the patron saint of merchants that makes connecting
businesses and consumers as easy as texting family and friends.
Just text "HelpOthers" to 78129, and Nicholas will guide you
through finding businesses and prebuying goods and
services.
In support of HelpOthers.io's mission, LivePerson has pledged
$500,000 to small businesses by
providing each of its employees with $500 to distribute through the marketplace to
their favorite local enterprises. LivePerson will not collect fees
on any gift cards purchased during the COVID-19 crisis. All net
proceeds, minus Stripe processing fees, will go directly to the
small businesses.
"We know it's time to step up to support our local businesses,
and we hope you'll join us to provide a lifeline when they need it
most," said Rob LoCascio, founder
and CEO of LivePerson and founder of the Dream Big Foundation.
"Small business owners are the backbone of our country, and while
they're not seeking a handout, COVID-19 makes it impossible for
most to stay open. Our goal is to provide support today to help
them stay afloat until our world gets back to
normal."
"HelpOthers.io was there when we needed them, and we will be
forever grateful," said Nicholas
Mancini, president of Division Hospitality Services, a small
business headquartered in New Rochelle,
NY. "They created a user-friendly platform that enabled our
supporters and generous companies to show their support.
HelpOthers.io's mission to help small business is essential in
fighting the long-term effects of the pandemic."
Small business owners can register now for the marketplace at
HelpOthers.io, and consumers can nominate their favorite local
businesses to join by texting "HelpOthers" to 78219.
About LivePerson, Inc.
LivePerson makes life easier
for people and brands everywhere through trusted conversational AI.
Our 18,000 customers, including leading brands like HSBC, Orange,
GM Financial, and The Home Depot, use our conversational commerce
solutions to orchestrate humans and AI, at scale, and create a
convenient, deeply personal relationship — a conversational
relationship — with their millions of consumers. For more
information about LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN), please visit
www.liveperson.com.
About the Dream Big Foundation
The Dream Big Foundation was founded in 2001 by LivePerson
Founder and CEO, Rob LoCascio. Born
and raised in New York, Rob
witnessed the aftermath of 9/11 and wanted to make a difference for
the many NYC families struggling with food access, particularly
around Thanksgiving. FeedingNYC has donated, packed, and delivered
Thanksgiving meals to 80,000 families with the help of thousands of
volunteers. Dream Big launched the Dream Big Entrepreneurship
Initiative in 2014 to provide funding, mentoring, and coaching to
local entrepreneurs and the Peter LoCascio Entrepreneurship Award
in 2016 to provide an annual grant to Brownsville, Brooklyn entrepreneurs. For more information,
please visit www.thedreambig.org.
Contact:
Mike Tague
(415) 408-5607
mtague@liveperson.com
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SOURCE LivePerson, Inc.