1. Put the word out! Put an ad in the paper that lets everyone know the sale is for CHARITY. Send press releases to your local paper. They’ll usually publish your info on the event calendar section of the paper for free since your profits go to charity.
2. Good signage! We had 5 or so signs out in all directions so that our sale was easy to find.
3. More signs! We had signs at the sale letting people know all of the $$ was for charity, and what charity we were supporting.
4. Word of mouth! We told everyone who walked up that the sale was for charity, and if they wanted to know more, we did a little song and dance about the Avon walk. (Not a real song and dance, but you know what I mean.)
5. Donation buckets! We had a donation bucket (and a sign) on the table and people dropped money in it more than once.
6. No hagglers! Early in the sale, when people tried to haggle, we wouldn’t. I guilted more than one person into paying full price since it was all for charity. Later in the day, when we tried to move more items, we made great deals.
7. The buddy system! Doing this with a friend made it 100% easier – don’t go it alone!
I’ve now met 10% of my Avon Walk goal. My overall goal is $1800, and I’m at $180 right now. Our team goal, with 6 members, is $10,800.00 (wow!) and we’ve raised $650.00 of that. Of course, I wouldn’t be sharing all of these facts and figures without asking you to consider making a donation to me! We need every bit of help, and while I can’t help you on this year’s tax return, your donation is tax deductible for next year.
Our next group event (for our Florida team members) will be at a local grocery store on 4/19. Traditionally, a few hours out in front of the grocery store nets us at least $500, so I’m hoping we can see that success again. It will make a big dent in my goal. My sister also committed to a $200 donation, since she’s not walking this year. I look forward to that being deposited!
Our garage sale for the Avon Walk this weekend was a big success!
I walked away with $100 in profit, and my friend ended up with over $200. We were busy all day and got rid of a ton of stuff, and even snagged a few donations from benevolent shoppers. When all was said and done, I packed up what I had left and hauled it to Goodwill where I made a big donation.
Our next fund raiser will be a stand out and beg day in front of a local grocery store. That’s always good for big donations!
I’ve put an ad in the newspaper, which appeared today and will run again tomorrow. I also got some free press in the community section, since the sale is for charity. They put “Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Charity Yard Sale” along with the address and times. Gotta love free press! Our signs are purchased, and everything is priced.
Tomorrow morning I plan to be at the neighbor’s at 7am, so we can set up. I put that the sale would start at 9am, but people ALWAYS come early to garage sales, so we want to be prepared. Once we get set up, I’ll head out to put up the signs, or send her husband to do it if we already have shoppers.
I need to get change and singles and take all of the grocery store bags I’ve been hoarding to her house tomorrow. I need to make a new sign for our donation bucket to entice people to donate even if they don’t buy. Other than that, I think we’re ready!
My post on Why I Walk was recently selected as a finalist in the Blog Battle Royale Charity edition over at Izea. Advertisers who have previously run charity campaigns will be reading the 3 finalist’s entries (one of the finalist’s is my sister!) and picking their favorite. The prize is $1000 donated to your charity. My fund raising goal for the Avon walk this year is $1800, so you can see why I’m trying to win – that donation would be a huge boost for my goal!
Our garage sale to raise money for the Avon walk is next weekend. This weekend, I had planned to organize my own items, price things, and make my way to the neighbors house to drop off my sale items. I had also planned to go to WalMart and buy the signs we needed for the morning of the sale. Then my son got sick, and I spent the day at the urgent care clinic and filling prescriptions, and I didn’t get one single thing done as far as the yard sale. Oops!
On the donation front, I had two coworkers donate to me this week, so I’m no longer sitting at $0 for my grand total. Slowly, but surely, I’ll make it to $1800.
