The “Big Win” to Drive Raffle Ticket Sales
Alex Stauff, a Physician Assistant student ðt Gannon University, offers a wõðlth of tірѕ for holding a bõttõr rðfflõ in this “ImрðÑÂt a LÑ–fõ†ÑÂþllõgõ Ñ•ÑÂhþlðrÑ•hÑ–Ñ€ õѕѕðу.
Follow along ðѕ Alex offers up ѕþmõ grõðt ideas for organizing, Ñ€rþmþtÑ–ng, and mðxÑ–mÑ–zÑ–ng уþur þrgðnÑ–zðtіþn’ѕ next rðfflõ fundraiser.
Thanks Alex, and best of luck with your studies!
“Impact a Life†Scholarship contributor: Alex Stauff
Yþu ÑÂðn hõlÑ€ Alex Stauff’s pursuit þf a scholarship award bу ÑÂlÑ–ÑÂkÑ–ng the “sharing Ñ–Ñ• ÑÂðrÑ–ng†buttþnÑ• bõlþw.
The possibility of winning big is an alluring concept; after all, that was the basic premise of this very scholarship competition! Furthermore, this idea drives the United States lottery, which raked in $53 million in ticket sales in 2010, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. It is clear that raffles are innately attractive; the question, then, is how to maximize ticket sales to benefit your nonprofit group.
Soaring ticket sales stem from perfect prizes. There are many options, but themed baskets tend to be a staple because of their versatility and wide appeal. Brainstorm themes with your group a few weeks in advance. Movie night, spa day, fitness, camping, gardening, pet supplies, and kids’ toys are just a sample of the hundreds of themes to choose from. Head to Pinterest or other craft sites for more inspiration!
After deciding on the number of baskets, gather your team and delegate a theme to each group that plans to donate a basket. Decide in advance if each group will pay for their own basket or if money from the nonprofit will cover the costs. When purchasing materials, be sure to mention your cause at the checkout. Some stores, especially locally owned small businesses, may be willing to donate merchandise or gift cards!
When possible, match the container to the contents. Many plain wicker baskets are tossed in closets, never to be used again, after the goodies have been removed. Choosing containers that are functional as well as attractive is an excellent strategy to appeal to pragmatists and increase ticket sales. Stuff a gym bag with the latest workout gear for a fitness basket, or arrange a screen-worthy movie basket in an oversized popcorn bowl. Other attention-grabbing and versatile containers include kiddie pools, baby strollers, garbage cans, laundry baskets, picnic baskets, inverted umbrellas, and suitcases.
When putting together professional-looking prizes, the goal is to attractively display the majority of the basket’s contents. Use crinkle cut paper to fill the bottom of the container and prop up the goodies inside. After artfully arranging the contents, consider wrapping the finished product in cellophane to keep everything in place during transportation and display.
Once your prizes are ready to go, print up some flyers detailing the most attractive items in the raffle, including color photos if available. Many communities have bulletin boards at local libraries or shopping centers where citizens can freely advertise. Consider hanging some around your workplace or your child’s school, if permitted. A quick post to Craigslist is also a great idea.
If your raffle includes some particularly tasty items, such as a signed jersey or big-ticket appliance, consider selling tickets in advance. Create a friendly competition between ticket sellers by making a progress chart to display. Include sellers’ names and use tally marks to indicate the number of tickets sold. Stickers are great for milestone numbers! Award a small prize or gift card to the winner.
On the day of the raffle, ensure that the prizes are attractively displayed. To maximize the amount of tickets sold, consider offering discounts when people purchase tickets in bulk. Set your prizes based on the value of the baskets. To increase speed and efficiency, use a book system to keep track of names and contact information instead of having buyers write their name and contact information on each individual ticket.
To employ the book system, number a notebook down the left-hand column. When a person buys one or more ticket(s), instruct him to write his name and contact information by the next number. This is the number that will go on all of the raffle tickets he purchases. Voila! With this system, people can purchase, “fill outâ€Â, and deposit their raffle