Fundraising with a public selling event

If you are selling a product as a fundraiser, you could simply ask members to sell to their families, friends and neighbours, but why not expand you supporter base and have a public selling event?  There are great financial gains to be made selling your product where people are already shopping!

Location

Find a busy location that will allow you to set up a table to sell your goods.  Good places are grocery stores, drug stores, shopping malls and home improvement stores.  Look for a place that has lots of weekend traffic.

Ask permission

Approach the owner or manager with your request.  You may need to set up an appointment to meet with the manager.  Be prepared with your request.  Explain who you are and which organisation you represent.  Tell them what your fundraising goal is (e.g. to buy new band uniforms for the upcoming competition).  Describe what your fundraiser involves (e.g. selling gel packs).  Tell them where you would like to set up a table (preferably at the entrance doors) and what the preferred date is for your campaign.  Have an alternative date ready in case there is a conflict.  It is useful to put this all in writing, preferably in a letter with your organisation’s letterhead.

Get permission in writing, just in case no-one remembered to inform the weekend manager!  Make sure you are clear in exactly what you are allowed to do (e.g. how big your table may be, where you may put up posters etc.).

On the day

On the day, make sure that you present yourselves and your products in the best way possible.  Get members to dress neatly and make sure they know what they need to say to prospective supporters.  See our previous article on 'How to sell' for some tips.  Use a full-sized table cloth on your table, and present the products in an appealing way.  Try to entice passers-by by showing them the benefits of your product.  For example, if you are selling food, you might have some bite-sized tasters, or if you are selling gel packs, you may have some heated or cooled so people can feel the comfort they bring.  Make sure you have enough people to staff your table.  Stagger the start times for each shift so that there is some overlap and provide everything your volunteers will need (e.g. a cash float, bags etc.).  Always have adults present, never children alone.

A great location coupled with some publicity effort can do wonders for your fundraising efforts.

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