How do we raise money?
Groups raise money when supporters buy products from their online store. Once participants register, they can invite family and friends to shop. Invitations go out via social media, text, and email, and groups profit from every sale.
Do participants need to register?
Registration is the most effective way to promote your fundraiser online. Once registered, participants can invite friends and family to your online store using text, social media, and email. They'll also be able to log into their sales portal anytime and track their online sales. If you’re offering one of our prize programs, online sales count towards earning prizes.
When more potential buyers click on the link that your sellers share, your store will experience increased traffic and sales. Once at the store, the participant's name appears at the top of the page, which helps to personalize the fundraiser. Encourage your sellers to personalize the visitor experience even more by uploading their pictures when logged into their dashboard.
(NOTE: Participants who add their picture are ten times more likely to get supporters than those who don't!)
As the sponsor, you can track individual and group sales progress. In addition to the dollars raised, you'll be able to see the number of social shares and emails sent out by your sellers.
Enhance sales by setting individual seller goals based on your group's needs. Ask each seller to set their product goal, which they can do at the bottom of their dashboard page.
(Use the 'Calculate Your Profit' calculator at the top of the page to determine your profit)
Track your fundraiser progress and remind participants to invite people to your store, which will help your participants reach their goals.
Registered participants will also be eligible to earn credit toward prizes. We encourage groups to supplement the prize program we offer with additional incentives.
Participants can add their teacher, class, or team name when registering, allowing you to see online sales by each subgroup. Make selling even more fun by incorporating additional fundraising incentives to help foster competition between teachers, classes, or teams to boost overall sales.
Registration is Key
Getting your group to register is vital to your success, and you want to start strong. 46% register on the first day, and 80% of registered participants sell, translating to an average of $100 in sales per seller! Here are some ideas:
Pro Tips:
- Meet in person or over Zoom to discuss the importance of registration.
- Offer low-cost or no-cost incentives (extended recess, duct tape the principal to the wall, water balloon the principal, etc., based on reaching a set registration level, such as 40-50%).
- Offer a registration prize (or everyone who registers by tomorrow goes into a special drawing).
- Email your parents, asking them to register (principals send an email for school-wide fundraisers).
- The goal is 100% registration, so continue to remind your group throughout your sale.
- Use our leaderboard to promote and boost sales throughout your fundraiser.
Do we receive a group link?
There are two ways to promote your store:
- Registration: By default, you'll receive your group ID number. Participants will need it to register, obtain their unique link, and share it with others using social media, text, and email.
- Direct Link: Or, as an option, you can provide your unique group link to bypass the registration process. Everyone would be able to share this link with their friends and family. This link is found in your admin portal.
By promoting a direct link, you can only track sales as a group, not by individual sellers. You would also not be able to use our prize programs.
Online Ship-to-Group Orders
Another limitation with a single store link is getting products to online customers who choose the ship-to-group option. Typically, participants register and send out their unique links, and when customers make a purchase, orders are automatically tied to a particular seller.
Any products are shipped to the group already packed inside the seller's box with their other brochure products. Participants then deliver these products to their customers.
But with the single link option, you must let any ship-to-group buyers know to pick up their order because it won't be associated with any seller.
Is money collected with each order?
No in-person ordering or money collection takes place. Participants generate sales when the people they invite buy products from your store.
Can participants track their sales?
Participants can log into their portal anytime and see their sales updates.
Are there any fees?
There are no setup fees or costs to run a Goodies & Gifts Online fundraiser. We will waive the $50 admin fee once your group sells 50 products. If you decide to cancel after we receive your signed agreement, you will be charged the $50 admin fee.
Can participants earn prizes?
Incentivizing your participants can improve sales. We offer two prize program options:
- Cash
- Prizes
We will email your prize flyer to you before your kickoff. Be sure to forward it to your participants and discuss it. You must continue to promote your prizes throughout your sale, keeping your group motivated.
After your sale, we add the total cash amount to your profit payment. If you choose a traditional prize plan, we ship your prizes to your group address.
You'll receive access to your sales reports showing participants' names and how much they sold. Prizes are shipped with a reference list that matches prizes with participants.
There is no cost to the group for our prize programs.
Do participants get a brochure to show?
There are no brochures because this is an online fundraiser. Before your sale, we email you the steps to get started so you can pass them on to your sellers.
How soon can we start?
After you submit our Start a Fundraiser form, you'll receive an agreement to sign. Processing your order and setting up your store will take at least 3-5 business days.
Your store will be live once we send you your participant registration steps. We recommend that you have an official kickoff meeting so everyone starts simultaneously.
If you can't meet in person, consider using online communication technology. Examples include Zoom, Cisco Webex, GoToMeeting, and Google Meet.
How long is the fundraiser?
The key is to balance sufficient time for sales with sustained enthusiasm, so we’ve found a 2-week sale to be optimal. Therefore, we will set your end date for two weeks after your start date by default.
You can always let us know if you need to extend your sale about three-quarters of the way through. To succeed, focus on creating a sense of seller urgency, getting out of the gate quickly, and establishing early momentum. Unless you tell us to extend your sale, your store will close the next business day after your fundraiser ends.
Do you only work with schools?
No, we also work with non-school groups, such as church groups, sports leagues, and dance organizations.
Can we use more than one store at a time?
No. You must choose one store. For example, Goodies & Gifts Online cannot be run simultaneously with 'Popcorn Online'. However, you can always run a second online fundraiser after the first one ends.
Is there a minimum group size?
Yes. Your group must have at least 5 participants.
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