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Donations becoming a major problem...

2B

2B

Active Member
We adopted the policy to NEVER give donations in the form of "money" contributions.

We will contribute with products or services that we offer when we are inclined to do so.

If you "ask" for a contribution/donation, our reply is we will "match" the amount that X company / person has spent with us for the last 6 / 12 months.............
 
V

VizualVoice

I just learned how to change my title status
2B said:
We adopted the policy to NEVER give donations in the form of "money" contributions.

We will contribute with products or services that we offer when we are inclined to do so.

If you "ask" for a contribution/donation, our reply is we will "match" the amount that X company / person has spent with us for the last 6 / 12 months.............
Click to expand...
Oh I like the matching thing
 
Stacey K

Stacey K

I like making signs
WOW - thank you to everyone for these great responses!!!

I always felt donating to the things my kids were into was full-filling. I enjoyed volunteering for soccer, baseball and my son always liked that I did a radio ad for the high school football games -made him feel kinda important and "cool". He graduated and he started racing. I do his car for free and donate some tires, etc. I had lettered 2 other girls cars who just started racing also - yes, just because they are girls LOL. They pay for the initial decals but for them, I give them give away stickers, replace a number or sponsor throughout the year at no cost, - and like Gino - my name doesn't go on the car and I tell them, don't tell anyone!

I was cub scout leader and get along really well with the cub master so every year the boys come in and we make shirts and stickers (as a donation) and it's really fun! The kids and the parents love it and my son helps out and it's just a fun night!

I really like Canuks response in which you only donate to things that are "close to your heart" and to have a form to fill out. That's perfect! That's exactly what I've tried to do over the years and going to do going forward!
 
2B

2B

Active Member
CanuckSigns said:
I think we've all been there before, I have a handful of customers who hit me up every year for their golf tournaments etc. I too have a difficult time saying no and potentially loosing them as a client, but at the end of the day you have to weigh it up. We have one customer who spends around $500/year with us, all just little engraved plaques etc, every year they hit us up to sponsor their charity golf tournament for $300, I've finally told them that I can't (their annual revenue makes mine look like petty cash)

What I've done is I made a google form for sponsorship and donation requests, anyone who asks is sent a link to the form, on the form there are very clear stipulations, such as:
- all requests must be made a minimum of 6 weeks before the event
- only requests submitted with this form will be considered
- you must be a registered charity, with a charity number (no personal requests)
-priority will be given to charities benefiting x and y as those are causes near to our hearts.
- Do not contact us about your application, we will contact you if we choose to proceed with your donation.
Click to expand...

Mind sharing the form
 
Geneva Olson

Geneva Olson

Expert Storyteller
Stacey K said:
I answered my own question in preparation to make this post - but I'm posting it anyway LOL

I got a problem now with a pissed off customer. He basically threatened me in Spring to be a sponsor of his Walleye tournament or he would take his business elsewhere. I had my name on the shirts, I donated my labor for the shirts, ordered bags at cost, gave a couple Carhartts, made a banner. To his credit, he did a great job advertising the sponsors - but who cares? I'm busy and can't keep up so not really in need of an advertising campaign. He came in Thursday and not only did he assume I was going to sponsor again, he said another shirt shop wants to go in on the shirts. I said, no thanks, she can just do the shirts and have her name only on them. He did NOT like that. Then he comes at me with "I'm a coach at S.H. baseball diamond, I'm going to start selling the 4x8 signs for $1200 on the baseball fence. If you give us $1200 of free labor and materials I'll put a sign up for you for free." (so basically, $2400) - I laughed and said my son played there and I spent 15 years donating, so I'm not interested. Then he said, "Looks like you're all caught up here, I was just by Sara's shop and she's swamped. Do you know if the other sign shop in S.N. does those signs?" - Friends - I almost lost my SH*T. Then he went on bragging about how he donates roofs, bleachers, all this crap - good for you - you own a roofing company and have 30 employees - you are running a muti-million-dollar company!

Bottom line - he's 6% of my business with most of that in 2023 - minus the sponsorship - so not a huge loss after I sat down and did the math. He sent 2 other fishermen to me to do $520 of boat decals and they BOTH asked me to donate to their stupid tournaments too!

I'm here to make money. I'm not here to save the world. My donations thus far have revolved around my kids activities and some cancer benefit type stuff, churches and Veterans often get a discount or some freebies. I'm a single woman with a part time employee - you can all make an educated guess on how much I make per year. I'm not raking in millions.

The answer to my question is I'm going to tell him to pound sand. If the other sign shops want to get involved with all this donating to HIS favorite benefits - they can have his business! Am I wrong????
Click to expand...
he was seriously trying to strong arm you to donate your goods and services?
 
Stacey K

Stacey K

I like making signs
Geneva Olson said:
he was seriously trying to strong arm you to donate your goods and services?
Click to expand...
Yes, he did.

And I found out he's getting paid to run 1-2 other tournaments, which means he's probably been paying himself to run his.

And this is why people don't want to donate...because of guys like this.
 
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