Fundraisers - it's the perfect time to figure out which items or
services you will be promoting. Very few are running fundraisers
in the summer - it's a great time to get started before the
competition hits! At least you should figure out your strategy
now, even if you are waiting for the end of summer to get
started. You might find you are better off to try a new product,
instead of selling the very same ones you always sell, and
everyone else sells. Don't dilute your potential - try something
different that no one else if selling.
The first item you must address is whether you want to, or have
the funds to, purchase products first, and then sell them. This
strategy is a bit of a concern, since there is no guarantee that
you will sell all of the items. If you can return them unsold,
then it is more of a safe deal. Pick the product line that is in
demand in your area - don't just think of how "cute" something
is - ask around to see if people would actually want to buy it.
Test it around, and if there is demand, go for it, but don't
order much more than you are certain to sell.
If you don't want to invest funds up front, you will need to
decide on the approach you want to take - do you want to carry
order forms or catalogs to people to have them place orders
from? Or do you want to hand out fliers and then take orders? Do
you want to pass out fliers, brochures or cards with a website
address that people can order from? Any of these can be
effective, but the website link will not work for everyone - not
all people are Internet connected, and not all want to or can be
connected to a computer. If you choose this route, make sure to
give them a good phone number to call for assistance with the
products, otherwise your handout will get thrown away. Any time
you hand something out for people to respond to, when you are
not actually going through the order process with them, you will
need to make sure that the ordering instructions are clear and
easy to follow, you must make sure to specify UP FRONT and as
the first thing - that you are raising funds for your group, and
this is the medium you choose. Set your brochure apart from the
junk mail people get. Your best chance to make a sale is to
physically speak to people, and guide them through the process.
Many will not act on a brochure or notice, and willplace it in
their junk pile, never to be seen.
Now you need to pick your fundraiser product - do you want the
same product that every school sells at the same time? The
wrapping paper that is sold by thousands of kids in your area?
Or do you want to try a fresh approach and offer people
something different? Many schools and organizations are having
great successes with long distance and cell phone products -
which offer savings to the buyer, and brings in residual income
to the group. This type of program can end up on auto-pilot, per
se, because as customers build up, so do the funds coming in.
Monthly income programs with automatic payment option can be
very lucrative. People are more willing to make a service switch
if they are approached by a fundraiser, rather than a
telemarketer or stranger. Phone services are products with a
daily need - people always need this, so it's easier to sell.
There are shopping programs in which people have total
flexibility to choose their products, and can shop there again
and again after the fundraiser period is over. This is one that
is set up for the Internet - so they will have access at all
times to the shopping. Boy Scout troops and other organizations
are having great response to these. Think of the possibilities,
and get started, at least with your strategy. For more
information and programs to look at, go to
http://doubleii.com/fundraising.html
About the author:
P Roe writes a weekly resource newsletter called "Funding
Solutions" in which many types of funding situations are
discussed. From fundraisers to loans to investment options, all
are covered here. For a free subscription,
mailto:financial@doubleii.com?subject=fundingsolutions Or visit
the website at http://doubleii.com/finance.html
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