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Tips for a Successful Fundraising Campaign
You have chosen an excellent fund raiser. Civic organizations across the U.S. and abroad have generated thousands of dollars to put into their treasuries for future use for computers, updating buildings, constructing new buildings, purchasing band uniforms, scholarship funds and more. Along with achieving their monetary goals they created a lasting and unique commemorative product for their community, school or organization that can be ordered many years into the future (Ty Mawr keeps the patterns on file for future orders).
Creating and Ordering Your Custom Designed Product.
1. Before a design can be started it is necessary to send in a purchase order with a minimum order filled in and a $300 deposit that
goes toward your final purchase. Translation there is NO SET UP FEE. The $300 helps ensure that our clients are committed to the project.
A sample of a purchase order (PO) will be sent upon request.
Send your PO and deposit to:
Winnie Hauser
Ty Mawr Classics
PO Box 111
Trinity, NC 27370
Fax: 336-434-1763
Email: whauser@northstate.net
If you are interested in doing a custom design coverlet or tapestry throw of your community, school or organization make sure that one has not already been done. If it has when was it done? Has enough time
elapsed that another pattern will be successful? Call some local retail shops that carry this type of merchandise and inform them of your intention to do this project as a fund raiser.
Remember our minimum orders: depending on the product will you have enough interest in your area? If not you might want to expand your market into the county or city.
Develop a general idea of what you would like to have featured on your coverlet before you commit to doing it. Will the owners of the items you want depicted (historical buildings, logos, etc) give you permission to use them. Ty Mawr's clients are responsible for all images.
2. Initial sketch receipt
You know your community so it's best if you select what you would like to see
featured. Your options for the design of the coverlet are limitless as just about
anything can be included on your coverlet. If you are interested in depicting people talk with the art staff first for assistance.
Email your graphics to: tymawr@alink.com
To mail your graphics to us:
Ty Mawr Classics
Art Department
905 River Rd.
Granville, OH 43023
Phone: 800-998-7051
Fax: 740-587-4944
The art staff will phone you acknowledging the receipt of your materials. At this time you will also be asked how you found us. This is important as this is how your sales representative will be credited.
You will receive your initial sketch in about 7 working days via fax. Your initial sketch will be a rough layout of your design. If this layout is satisfactory give a verbal approval at this time. If you are not satisfied your pattern will be corrected until you are satisfied.
3. Computer Generated Sketch
Approval of this sketch is very important. This is your last chance to make
changes! Make sure you have a final sketch you are totally happy with. The computer generated sketch is what your final woven product will look like. Check for spelling errors, building errors or anything that you see on this 8
1/2" x 11 " page. If you don't correct it you will receive a 53" x 67" or 46" x 67" woven product that is incorrect. Because you have been so involved with this process it's best to have an outsider come in and proofread your sketch.
Sign and date the paperwork the art department sends if you are satisfied. If you are not, corrections will be made until you are satisfied. There is a
penalty fee of $250 if the product has to be re-woven due to error. If your coverlet is a natural and one color you will be asked what color you want your sample to be in: navy blue, cranberry red, hunter green, Williamsburg blue, black or rose.
You will receive a color printout of your pattern whether it's a 2 layer coverlet, tapestry throw, tapestry pillow, stocking, placemat or any of the other products that we offer. Ask the art department about blending colors or custom colors.
4. Sample Receipt
The above sketches can take anywhere from 7 days to 4 weeks depending on the client or the complexity of the pattern. After the pattern has been sent to the mill to be woven you should receive your sample within 2 weeks. If you have not received it call customer service at 800-998 7051 and ask Winnie or Michelle to check on the status of your sample. If you would like a second sample for a presales campaign call Winnie or Michelle.
5. Copyrighting Your Design
Copyrighting your design is very easy.
Write to: Register of Copyrights
Copyright Office Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20559
They will send you applications. Be prepared to wait. It takes a long time.
6. Marketing Your Product
As soon as you get a sketch which is fairly close to what you want, make copies,
give them to your members or other volunteers and start talking about "The Coverlet", "The Pillow", "The Placemat". This is the beginning of "getting the word out". Make sure people know what it is you are marketing and what you propose to do with the funds: band uniforms, computers, scholarships, etc. Display the coverlet, pillow or placemat.
One key to a successful pre-sales campaign is letting people see and touch the sample. Many of your local institutions: banks, post office, library, schools
will let you display the coverlet as this is good community relations. Even retail shops like to be involved since this promotes being a "good neighbor" and a fund raiser that puts money back into the community is beneficial to all.
The local media: newspaper, radio, cable T.V. has PSA's (public service announcements). Have a local phone number and a volunteer available to answer questions.
If you have local events coming up display the coverlet there or the sketch.
If you already have a web site incorporate your coverlet into the site. This way people can download an order form and see the coverlet. Make your pre-sales campaign fun. Getting the word out takes a lot of work and the more money you're interested in generating will take a lot of energy. Be a team and support one another .
7. Taking Orders for Your Coverlet
You'll not want to run the pre-sales campaign longer than 6 weeks as you'll have
started to get money in for the coverlet and people might get a little antsy on waiting, so set a time limit.
One great way to get people to order within the time limit is to have 1st Ed. or the date on the coverlet and then once the pre-sales campaign is over and the order has been placed all future orders will have 1st Ed or the date removed. There is no charge for this from Ty
Mawr.
Place order forms with the display around town, in the newspaper and on your, web site.
Have your order forms give the cost, the dimensions, color (if more than one color is offered in the 2 layer) , have a picture of the coverlet, pillow, etc. and when the pre-sales campaign ends.
Contact Winnie or Michelle in customer service to give you a timeline on shipping.
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