Sunday, October 25, 2009
PUMPKINS, CRYSANTHEMUMS AND FALL MONEY-MAKERS!
by Sherie SmithThe Fundraising Designer
3 Hours To Fundraising Success Group
As I sat drinking my coffee, I couldn't help but remind myself that 'it's that time again'! Time when parents try not to linger too long picking the kids up from school and find themselves checking the caller ID when the phone rings. As parents and even as grandparents, we cringe sometimes to admit that this time of year has a dreadful side of it - and I don't mean hobgoblins and hooligans. We also find ourselves often being fearful of checking the kids' backpacks at night. You hope against hope the telltale evidence won't show up for at least another few weeks.
But we realize one afternoon soon the young son or sweet daughter will dump their backpack on the table, run out the door to play and call back over their shoulder: 'Hey Mom? There's a note from the teacher in there for you.' Slowly you cringe as you open the bookbag and retrieve the offensive paper. You hold it between two fingers like it's contaminated or soiled like a dirty diaper. Yes, the beautiful carnival-colored paper looks innocent, but we know without a doubt what we've been dreading is finally here. You close your eyes for a last few seconds of peace, then take a deep breath and read those all-too-disturbing words. . .
"Hi there, we're having a fundraiser and we need your help!"
Yes, even the best parents and grandparents, the most faithful to help out when needed, often cringe at this time of year. It's not the Halloween Haunts, or the 'Before Halloween and Thanksgiving Christmas Sales' that have us living in fear. It's simply that this time of year ~ beginning sometimes as early as just a few weeks after the new school year begins ~ is overflowing with every fundraising project imaginable to mankind. Every vendor out there is pitching their wares hot and heavy, hoping to grab as many of the early Christmas sales as possible.
Breaking News! We're worn out folks! Why can't you pick your strongest money-making projects and then only do a couple during the fall season? Why do we have to be bombarded by 3 or 4? Sometimes as parents, grandparents, neighbors, friends - quite frankly - our family budgets are worn out and, with the economy like it is, they are stretched to the 'nth' degree already! So if you care for your customers (and want to keep them as customers), please be considerate of our many other expenses this time of year. You'll surely find that just a little thoughtfulness will take you a long way in having potential customers happy to see your smiling face again for your next project and not hiding behind the living room curtain while you ring the doorbell.
You'll find your customers will be more than willing to help you achieve your Ultimate Fundraising Success, if you give us just a little fundraiser-break every now and then!
Sherie Smith, Editor
The Fundraising Designer
email: fundraisingdesigner@gmail.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/fundraisingdsnr
About Sherie Smith:
Sherie Smith shares insider secrets to achieve Ultimate Fundraising Success in her free 5-Part E-Course at: http://www.3hourstofundraisingsuccess.com She also has published a step-by-step copycat manual of the popular '$4,500in3hours' project, entitled, '3 Hours to Fundraising Success'.
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Posted by Sherie Smith at 12:56 AM Links to this post
Labels: fall halloween fundraisers pumpkins crysanthemums sales Christmas sales Holiday sales budgets family budgets back to school Thanksgiving economy