FUNDRAISING WITH

SHOPPINGTOURS

2013

fundraisingideas.com.auA how-to guide for

Australian fundraising volunteers

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3Fundraising with SHOPPING TOURS

One of the biggest decisions a committee has to make is what to do to raise those much needed extra funds for a group project.

Sometimes it’s easy to do what’s been done before, in the name of tradition; or because it seems just too hard to do something different.

The Fundraising Directory presents you with an A to Z guide of reliable and proven fundraising products and services in Australia.

In this ebook, a companion to my 22 lessons for A+ fundraising, let’s look at the possibilities that come from organised shopping tours.

Imagine making money for your school or club while picking up bargain buys for yourself!

Read on to find out how.

Happy Fundraising!

Direct Digital

EDITORMandy Weidmann 1300 653 305

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES1300 653 305sales@directdigital.com.au

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p: 1300 653 305 f: 1300 769 823www.fundraisingideas.com.auadmin@directdigital.com.au

DISCLAIMERDirect Digital Publications Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for materials in this publication or claims made by advertisers, or errors or omissions. Readers should not act on any representations made in this book without independent verification.

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4 Fundraising with SHOPPING TOURS

What’s on offerOrganised warehouse shopping tours take us where we may fear – or at least not have a clue where – to tread!

Why consider this fundraising option?Choosing to host a shopping tour is a fun way to build community within your group – you’ll get to know one another throughout the day – and make money.

When to run your fundraiser?If you’ve read 22 lessons for A+ fundraising, you will have in place:

• a SMART goal – a real target and purpose for fundraising

• a fundraising calendar with a mix of opportunities throughout the year – without being too enthusiastic or greedy.

The lead-up to Christmas is an obvious time when people open up their wallets and need to shop; so a shopping tour overcoming the hassles of parking and taking shoppers right to bargains may appeal.

Mother’s Day is another popular choice.

But in reality, shopping is a favourite Australian leisure pursuit year-round. Bargain hunting is a close second!

The real question with timing relates to the people you want on board your bus:

• Would school hours attract more people or do you need to make this a weekend event? Most tour companies operate Monday to Saturday with the occasional Sunday available.

Choosing the supplier who’s right for youThe Fundraising Directory takes the legwork out of finding suitable suppliers. You can send online queries to suppliers seeking more information and then decide who best meets your needs.

Here are the absolute essential questions to ask:

1. How long has the company been in business?

2. How long have they been doing fundraising tours? (There is a difference!)

5Fundraising with SHOPPING TOURS

Commission on sales is the common way of making money. The more people you have on board, and the more they spend, the higher the commission.

Check what the minimum number of paying adults is to qualify.

We provide tips for making extra dosh at How to make this work.

What is your group interested in? The choice is huge: women’s clothing, lingerie, men’s wear, children’s wear, handbags and luggage, shoes, cosmetics, perfume, jewellery, Manchester, homeware, toys, confectionary, pantry, giftware, books, music, Christmas decorations.

3. Is the tour guide experienced: a real people person who’ll be able to gee up the group?

4. How much can we expect to make?

6. What advantages can be offered? For example, special prices available only to this group, not to everyday shoppers.

7. Will your tour provider assist with prizes for raffles?

8. Does your tour provider supply flyers, brochures – anything to excite the community to get involved?

When talking to the company rep, consider her communication style. You want to work with someone who listens to your needs.

5. Will you visit stock-standard warehouses or will the tour be suited to your group’s particular interests and needs?

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6 Fundraising with SHOPPING TOURS

The company rep should also ask you questions about:

• your group’s financial goal

• your fundraising timeline

• the number of potential participants and their ages

• any historical information (e.g. past fundraisers, participation levels, successes and failures).

If he doesn’t, he’s not really interested in you: and you shouldn’t be interested in him either!

How to make this work

• Distribute a date claimer well in advance.

• Get firm bookings. Seats on the bus need to be paid upfront.

• Spread the word through networks of friends. This is a great excuse to catch-up!

• Talk up the benefits: door-to- door service; chauffeur driven (ok, it’s a bus, but you’re not having to park it!); special prices offered only to your group; exposure to

outlets you may never have thought to visit.

• Emphasise that there’s no obligation to spend: you want bums on seats. Hopefully even the most resistant shopper will get swept up in the moment and open the purse.

Extra ways to make money on a shopping tour

1. Add a little margin to the base seat cost. Be careful: you don’t want to price yourself out of reach.

2. Borrow a huge Esky, fill it with soft drinks bought on special at the supermarket and put them on ice. Even at $1 a can, you’ll make a profit.

3. Organise two or three raffles during the tour: one early, one midway and one drawn as you arrive back at the car park. Ideally get your prizes donated from businesses: ask your tour operator to help organise. $2 a ticket or three for $5 soon adds up.

7Fundraising with SHOPPING TOURS

When the fundraising’s overOrders have been dispatched, the money’s banked, and it’s all over, right? Not quite. But then, you know that: you’ve read 22 lessons for A+ fundraising!

Here are some of the jobs that the fundraising committee still needs to do:

1. Share the outcome with your community.

Too often, a fundraiser just fades away. People want to know what happened! Communicate the result with all who took part – committee members, volunteers, and supporters – using your newsletter and/or website.

2. Provide your fundraising supplier with feedback.

Then head to the supplier’s listing on the Fundraising Directory website to leave a review of this supplier to share with other fundraising volunteers.

3. Congratulate your volunteers on a job well done.

They’ll be more receptive to helping again.

4. Complete the Report Card in your Fundraiser’s Handover Manual.

Immediately after the fundraiser, complete a Fundraising Report Card in order to assess the event. The Fundraising Report Card can be downloaded from fundraisingdirectory.com.au and can easily be passed on to the next organiser for future events. The templates are simple to use and to fill out so that you can continuously improve your fundraisers every year.

Subscribe to our FREE monthly Fundraising eNewsletter to receive a bonus Fundraising Report Card Template. Click here to subscribe.

8 Fundraising with SHOPPING TOURS

Index to Fundraising eBooks

FREE eBooks available from fundraisingideas.com.au

1. THE ESSENTIALS Of fUNDRAISING - 22 Lessons for A+ Fundraising

2. Fundraising with ARTWORK, STATIONERY & LABELS

3. Fundraising with ATHONS & RAffLES

4. Fundraising with BOOKS

5. Fundraising with BULBS, HERBS & SEEDS

6. Fundraising with CHOCOLATES & LOLLIES

7. Fundraising with CLOTHING & JEWELLERY

8. Fundraising with CUSTOM LABELLED BEVERAGES

9. Fundraising with ECO-fRIENDLY PRODUCTS

10. Fundraising with ENTERTAINMENT

11. Fundraising with fOOD & fRUIT

12. Fundraising with GLOWSTICKS & fLASHING NOVELTIES

13. Fundraising with HOMEWARES

14. Fundraising with MISCELLANEOUS IDEAS

15. Fundraising with MOTHERS & fATHERS DAY STALLS

16. Fundraising with NOVELTIES & SHOWBAGS

17. Fundraising with PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

18. Fundraising with PHOTOGRAPHY

19. Fundraising with PROMO PRODUCTS/WRISTBANDS/BADGES

20. Fundraising with SHOPPING TOURS

21. Fundraising with TOYS & EDUCATIONAL

22. Fundraising for HIGH SCHOOLS

23. Fundraising for PRIMARY SCHOOLS

24. Fundraising for CHILDCARE & KINDERGARTENS

25. Fundraising for SPORTING CLUBS & COMMUNITY GROUPS

26. Fundraising for INDIVIDUALS

FUNDRAISING WITHARTWORK, STATIONERY & LABELS2013

fundraisingideas.com.au

A how-to guide for Australian fundraising volunteers

The Essentialsof Fundraising

2013

fundraising

ideas.com.au

22 LESSONS FOR A+ FUNDRAISING

Fundraising forIndividuals2013

fundraisingideas.com.au