Business

Marcus Lemonis: At the Crossroads of Empathy and Entrepreneurism

Marcus Lemonis was merely an infant in his native Lebanon as the nation was enduring the ravages of war in 1974, but when a bomb exploded in Nashville, Tennessee on Christmas Day 2020, the TV personality (CNBC’s The Profit and now Streets of Dreams), entrepreneur, advocate and philanthropist sprang into action.

What started as a $250,000 reward to anyone who provided information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator, was converted to donate to victims that were directly affected. Through an application process, Lemonis’ Nashville 30 Day Fund provided qualifying people and businesses, within a half mile of the bomb site, forgivable loans of up to $100,000.

"The Nashville 30 Day Fund is designed to be quick, easy, and free of red tape, as small business owners and individuals work to recover from the effects of the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville," Lemonis said in a recent press release. "All we ask in return: if you can, pay it forward." He personally donated $500,000 to the cause.

Lemonis, left at the steps of a Lebanese orphanage at just four days old by his birth mother, knows the value of paying it forward. His success as a businessman and entrepreneur is perhaps only surpassed by his sense of community and his compassion.

At nine months old, he was adopted and brought to Miami, Florida where he was raised by loving adoptive parents, Sophia and Leo Lemonis. Sophia nurtured his unique qualities, allowing him to embrace his own traits and learn that he had a head for business and a gift for helping others. He says she made him promise to “kick down doors for others.”

As a young man, Marcus honed his entrepreneurial spirit while working at his family’s automotive dealership. By the age of 25, Marcus seized upon an opportunity to reshape the way recreational vehicles and outdoor equipment were sold.

It’s been reported that former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca, a friend of the family, consulted with Lemonis about getting into the RV industry. Iacocca saw the RV sector as fragmented and ripe for consolidation. He reportedly helped Lemonis start and acquire Holiday RV Superstores.

Lemonis served as CEO of Holiday RV Superstores in the early 2000s, then co-founded Freedom Roads and began acquiring RV dealerships. In 2006, Freedom Roads merged with Camping World with Lemonis as CEO. Good Sam Enterprises is also part of the group.

ML400x622Camping World Holdings went public on the New York Stock Exchange (CWH) in October 2016. Still serving as chairperson at Camping World and Gander RV & Outdoors, Lemonis’ leadership and vision have helped make it America's #1 source for RVs, camping accessories, RV maintenance and repair.

As noted on his website: “Marcus Lemonis may have been born in Lebanon but he is 100% American-made.” And, perhaps fittingly, what’s more American than camping in the great outdoors, or RV-ing from sea to shining sea?

The January 5th airing of CNBC's "Streets of Dreams with Marcus Lemonis," featured Lemonis visiting Music Row – an unassuming Nashville street that is at the heart of America's multi-billion-dollar country music industry. The five-episode series, from the same producers of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, showcases small businesses across the country and explores the stories of the entrepreneurs and the unique business cultures that define America’s most iconic streets.

"It was surreal for me to visit Nashville five days after the bombing and see the destruction firsthand, knowing I was here a year ago filming in this iconic city,” he added in the same statement. “I met with many business owners to start the process of rebuilding and to let them know, they are not alone."

Also in late 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Marcus launched The Business Learning Center, a free online educational tool on his website (marcuslemonis.com) aimed at helping entrepreneurs and business owners succeed during challenging times. The site also includes The Business of Life section, which helps people understand how to make the best use of their money – from applying for student loans to buying a first car or home.

As noted on the website, The Business Learning Center is a place for ideas, information and inspiration. One of the recent courses featured focuses on Consumer Confidence. In that course, Lemonis advises how to listen and learn from customers to create a business that delivers products and services that earn brand loyalty and trust.

Most of the courses consist of seven to nine online lessons. They deal with topics such as managing teams, how to reinvent yourself or a business, managing the finances, negotiating strategies and many more.

“Maybe this is the business part of my brain, but I didn’t want to just reach out a hand to a few people,” Lemonis explained the motivation behind his learning center. “I wanted to create a huge place of opportunity, then open the floodgates and give it away to everyone for free.”

He says the online learning center is designed as a place for everyone to grow. Lemonis has taken a lot of what he’s learned over the years, and is now passing that along to others. Articles and podcasts, in addition to the courses, are posted about everything from business to lifestyle.

“Think of this as a reference library for your entire life,” he explains. “But most importantly, I wanted everyone to have access. So, this is all free. Yes. Free … I think everyone should have a right to learn regardless of their income. And I want to be your bridge to knowledge and opportunity, not just in business but in life.”

Learning and Lemon-Aid
The Business Learning Center is clearly part of Lemonis’ ongoing mission of paying it forward. He also recently launched The Lemon-Aid Foundation to provide resources and lending to the many struggling businesses and individuals during these pandemic-challenged times.

"I have dedicated my life to working with small businesses and understand the urgent need for both financial and educational resources," he said in an October issue of the Chicago Business Journal. "Business leaders have a responsibility to empower other entrepreneurs so that they can flourish and succeed in today's world. Our best and only option is to support each other and I implore others to join me in the cause."

Lemonis pledged $50 million to his Lemon-Aid Foundation for supporting and investing in under-served communities and small businesses. These investments take the form of loans and equity investments and are designed to have measurable charitable impact on the communities and businesses being served by the foundation.

ML450 600The foundation also aims to make grants to other charitable organizations that share the same mission and goals. Lemonis says he intends to apply the same type of rigor that he applies in his own investments to the impact investing of the foundation.

This past holiday season – in one of its first initiatives – The Lemon-Aid Foundation challenged Americans to give back to their local restaurants and help those who are food insecure. Lemonis, Grubhub and others combined forces to support community restaurants and those people most in need.

The mission is to get people to round up food orders and donate the change – and not just during the holidays, but throughout the continued COVID-19 pandemic. Dubbed “Plating Change,” Lemonis kickstarted the program through The Lemon-Aid Foundation with a $1 million donation and the newly formed partnership with Grubhub.

The "Plating Change" program works with Grubhub to give back to World Central Kitchen, supporting its Restaurants for the People program, and also providing meals for communities in need. A $500,000 donation in November through The Lemon-Aid Foundation jumpstarted the program, allowing World Central Kitchen and Grubhub to take immediate action in New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia, bringing food to those who need it most.

ML595 400"This year has been a struggle for so many people and businesses around the country, and we know winter will bring a new set of challenges," said Seth Priebatsch, chief revenue officer at Grubhub, in a November joint press release with Lemonis. "We're so appreciative of Marcus' partnership and contribution to World Central Kitchen to provide meals to those who need them most while also supporting the restaurants we all know and love."

The Lemon-Aid Foundation is also donating the remaining $500,000 to other charitable organizations that fight food insecurity, as well as local restaurants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. By going to wck.org/platingchange, people across the country can still donate to World Central Kitchen in support of the program, whether it’s a single meal (value of $10) or more.

What’s more, some major sports leagues have each dedicated to being an extension of the "Plating Change" program through their donations and commitment in raising awareness.

"When you work tirelessly to try and do good and create bridges, you find that there are always people along the way who want to help in your mission," said Lemonis in an official statement. "My friends at MLB, NASCAR and NHRA are seeing the tremendous impact that we're making in the community for both small business restaurant owners and those in need of food aid and want to help make a larger impact in their lives. I'm grateful for their support."
When visiting Lemonis’ website and learning center, one of his credos prominently displayed is: “Don’t compromise who you are.”

He stresses that with each great success, the lessons of humility imparted by his mother have helped keep him grounded, reminding him that the true riches of life are found in giving back.

For more information, visit: marcuslemonis.com or interested in making a donation to help the cause click here: https://donate.wck.org/give/312884/#!/donation/checkout

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