Peddler's Cart
Unlike the peddler's of past centuries
that went from town to town, you will
want to choose a single site for your
cart that will sell unique items.
Consistency in keeping a site
operating over the month's is the key to raising money. Many malls offer kiosks or peddler's carts for rental or allow you to set up your own.
This is a simple technique for raising small amounts of money, but may be somewhat labor intensive to some degree. Since most of the cost of running any business is the payroll, by getting volunteers to help with your project, you will realize a much greater profit.
Items To Sell
Choosing the right items to sell is probably the most difficult decision to make. Stay consistent and choose items related to your store name and your non-profit mission. Choose products that are similar; thereby, keeping your peddler's cart consistent.
Check with board members, major donors, and other volunteers to get ideas for the items you should sell.
Ask merchants at the local mall if they would allow you to sell items from their store on consignment with the idea of getting the profits on the sale as your donation. Often enough, merchants have a clearance sale to move seasonal merchandise out quickly.
Contract Work
Many of the mall merchants will have monthly sales that they will need seasonal help. Offer to work their sidewalk sale or peddlers cart with closeout sale items for free (that way they don't have to pay federal taxes). You might ask to receive a straight donation, hourly wage for manning their cart, or just on the profits generated of items sold.
Ask network marketers from your organization if they have products that they sell (Amway, Watkins, Avon, etc.). Many network marketing companies have products to sell as fundraisers. Stock your cart with some of these.
And don't forget the ever popular food items. Look for unique snacks, ice cream, gourmet foods, specialty drinks (iced fruit punch, teas, chai's, coffees, odd soft drinks, etc.), gift baskets, and others. Make sure you check with your county or parish health units for regulations on handling food items.
Build Around A Theme
Have a theme cart like candles or cooking with different seasonal offerings (barbecue sauces or grill seasonings sold during the summer months). Go to our Fundraising Products page for fundraising products to sell. Or try a sweets cart and sell gourmet candies with seasonal variety changes.
Go slow and start off selling on the weekends only. This will keep your volunteers from getting burnt out. Rotate the days a volunteer is at the cart often.
Be sure to keep accurate records as this may be seen as falling into the IRS's Unrelated Business Income Tax unless you can show that this is a major part of your ongoing fundraising efforts.
Set a set time to start and complete your Peddler's Cart sales. The best times are usually around Thanksgiving and Christmas or the springtime. Make sure you evaluate your sales as you progress from week to week. Discuss improvements and customer sales often.
Remember, nothing happens overnight.
