Daft fundraising question

Hi folks,

I've just notice that the total value of a shop in a box is the same as the cost so theres technically no profit.

So from my limited understanding when we sell something, sure H4H make something but our team total only increases with donations.

I'm probably not explaining myself very well so let me give an example:

The last time we were at Asda we took around £500 :O but sold all of a £100 Shop in a box so I took my £100 (as I fronted the box) back out and we've raised £400 and thats what we've donated for that day through bMyCharity. However H4H probably made good profit on that £100.

Surely I've got this wrong as we've actually raised £500 (less H4H's cost on the £100 box)

If anyone can explain it would be much appreciated?

The money raised on the merchandise goes to H4H and doesn't count towards your total.
We never sold any merchandise other than lapel pins, pens, wristbands (large and small) and car stickers. No great layout but enough to attract a bit of interest. The bulk of our fundraising (£35,000) came from donations. We always stood outside the store as we found that once people got inside, they were too focussed on shopping to bother to give. A bit of military music also helped......
Good luck with your collecting.

How utterly crushingly disappointing.

Yep, the lapel pins, pens and keyrings go well.

It's just it's not really a shop in a box if you buy a thing for £2 and sell it for £2. Silly me I had assumed you make a little profit which goes towards your total.

It's a lot of fuss to go to if it doesn't get added to your total. Especially when H4H insist in sending out tax disc holders and car stickers which don't sell in the least.

We might have to try outside tomorrow then and not push the merchandise so much. Atleast the weather has gotten better

Well done on your fundraising. I'm guessing a lot of business donations?

The merchandising is just a hook to bring people in.
The prices are a suggested minimum donation

So I should encourage people to give up a little extra then?

We're just trying not to be too pushy.

Not rattling tines etc, just a polite good morning etc to those who look like they might be drawn in as opposed to those who are clearly trying to avoiding eye contact. We just leave them be

Whether it's goods or donations, all the money goes to Help for Heroes, which is what we're all about. Doesn't really matter if it's via our bmycharity pages or through donations, H4H is the winner all round.
Outside the likes of Asda, the trolley tokens go well.

True it all ends up with the same folk which is what matters.

Yep trolley coins do go well too.

I'll have to see about suggesting to the misses that we stand outside all day tomorrow. This is going to go down worse than when I she could get up early on Friday to take the bins out for a change

Well done on your fundraising. I'm guessing a lot of business donations?

No, none at all - just a lot of days outside supermarkets - but we are retired

Magpie wrote:

Well done on your fundraising. I'm guessing a lot of business donations?

No, none at all - just a lot of days outside supermarkets - but we are retired

also hard working and tenacious!

Well we brought in nearly £400 which I should think is pretty good for a small Asda.

Well done! £400 is very good

Ha. I had just about given up trying to get more bookings. We have 4 other days at big supermarkets.

Sainsbury Milton Keynes have just asked what dates we are available so they can try to offer us two more

Has to be said that its really very rewarding. Our first day we were quite nervous as we hadn't done this before. We set up and 10 minutes later one chap said to his little boy "They're the boys and girls who keep us free." I nearly got choked up there and then. Obviously I did fess up to the dad that we're not actually forces. He said "I know "

Yes, we were very scared on our first day too but over the 2 years we've been collecting we've met some fascinating, interesting people and also heard some heartbreaking stories. It's the contact with so many different people from all walks of life that makes fundraising for H4H such a pleasant and worthwhile job.
Keep up the good work