Selling Balloon Bouquets Fundraiser idea FREE for nonprofits.

Balloon Fest

Balloon Bouquet Bonanza

Everybody loves balloons. My daughter is fascinated by balloons and just can't get enough of them. Big, small, red, green it doesn't matter, they are all good to her.

That's why your youth ministry, scout troop or music club (band or choir) will do well with this unique fundraiser anytime of the year. You may sell single helium balloons or bouquets of balloons. Either way, it will attract attention, is fairly inexpensive, and requires very little volunteer effort.

The Event Sale

Call your local Chamber of Commerce and school district to determine scheduled events for the year. Then select one or more events that you would like to participate in as a vendor.

Usually it costs $25 to $100 to sell items at some of these events. You must take a chance on whether you expect to sell enough to cover these costs. Or.you may get one of your donors to pledge the "event insurance" on the amount that it costs just in case you can't raise enough to cover the vendor cost (rained out event, etc.).

Purchase a bottle of helium from your local party supply shop or welding shop. Shop around for some party balloons and specialty balloons that will fit with the event theme since these sell best. Have your youth team go around and "hawk" single balloons for a dollar or 5 dollars for a bouquet of 10 with various colors.

Also, have a booth that people can stop by and purchase single balloons. Have some of them already inflated and ready to sell. Inflated balloons will also attract attention from event participants from hundreds of yards away. Ask the event announcer to give you a plug every hour.

Special Day

Special days that will create great orders

of bouquet balloons are Mothers Day,

Valentines Day, New Years, Independence

Day and more. Be sure that you offer a

card that the buyer can fill out to the

attention of the receiver.

Charge $5 for regular balloons with many different color and different colored strings. Add a stuffed bear or coffee mug (with the appropriate holiday design) to add variety and then sell for $10 or more depending on the cost of the add-ons. You may need something of weight to hold these balloons down anyway.

The holiday bouquets will require preselling and then later delivery. You will need to design your own order card that includes the buyer's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address; as well as, the recipients name and phone number and address. Attach a message card and envelope for the buyer to fill out at the time of sale.

The Day Of Delivery

Plan to deliver the bouquets two to three days before the holiday. Plan to deliver to businesses during the week period.

Your deliveries should be alphabetized in shoeboxes according to delivery routes and the number of delivery teams you've recruited. Some delivery teams may need to make several trips, but keep them concentrated to certain areas.

When your delivery team arrives to deliver the balloons make sure that they have been briefed on courtesy and cheerfulness. Have them mark on a delivery sheet those that have already been delivered. If someone is not home, make arrangements to call back and deliver later.

This easy, low cost fundraiser is sure to make your donations inflate. So go ahead and set up your balloon shop today.