Anyone sponsor raffles/events?

swan

New member
I got a call from a friend of a very good customer of mine tonight asking if I could donate some kind of detailing prize for an event they are putting on. I believe its some kind of softball tournament/village party deal.

We didn't get into all the specifics as we will be seeing each other Saturday at this friends house where we will talk more. He did say it will be advertised in the local paper thanking the sponsors plus signs at the event.

I told him I would think about what I could put together and offer. Anyone done something like this and what prize did you put up? Did it help with future business?

I am going to find out how much they are charging for raffle tickets as I was thinking maybe also add in that every ticket that is sold can also be used as a 10% coupon as well. Just thinking off the top of my head here. Any suggestions what to look out for or what to offer?

Thanks, Shawn
 
Depends on a lot of stuff. The first thing I would consider is are the ones it is being raffled off to my target audience. Otherwise you may be giving away your work just to give it away.



Raffle off a detail to a car club: yes

Raffle off a detail to a softball team in the boonies: no



That's not to say that someone on that softball team or a friend of someone could have a car collection and become my biggest client. But the odds are that I am just giving away money.
 
I love raffles and have donated a free detail for the last couple years to one at my wife's work (hospital; blind auction). Both times I have gotten new clients from people that saw my name in the auction and didn't win; both times the actual winners of the raffle haven't claimed their free detail (yet). Last year my $250 detail package went for over the actual price.



Just some tips, think about the market of the people at the raffle, what the cause is, how many people it will reach, and what type of raffle it is. I prefer blind auctions. Also, see if there is a way for you to get contact info for everyone that puts their raffle ticket into your box so you can send them more material or a coupon. If they throw a ticket in, they are already interested in your services. Non-profits love detail services because they are usually one of the more expensive items on the raffle list and tend to draw more ticket sales.
 
Jean-Claude said:
Depends on a lot of stuff. The first thing I would consider is are the ones it is being raffled off to my target audience. Otherwise you may be giving away your work just to give it away.



Raffle off a detail to a car club: yes

Raffle off a detail to a softball team in the boonies: no



That's not to say that someone on that softball team or a friend of someone could have a car collection and become my biggest client. But the odds are that I am just giving away money.



Is it my target audience? I have a wide variety of customers now so to say what my target is, is hard to say. I know it is not a softball team. It is some kind of village fest with a softball tourney thrown in. Plus its in my target geographical location.

Sometimes when I thought what my target has been I have been surprised. From Ferrari's to horse trailers and everyone in between.



todd@bsaw said:
I love raffles and have donated a free detail for the last couple years to one at my wife's work (hospital; blind auction). Both times I have gotten new clients from people that saw my name in the auction and didn't win; both times the actual winners of the raffle haven't claimed their free detail (yet). Last year my $250 detail package went for over the actual price.



Just some tips, think about the market of the people at the raffle, what the cause is, how many people it will reach, and what type of raffle it is. I prefer blind auctions. Also, see if there is a way for you to get contact info for everyone that puts their raffle ticket into your box so you can send them more material or a coupon. If they throw a ticket in, they are already interested in your services. Non-profits love detail services because they are usually one of the more expensive items on the raffle list and tend to draw more ticket sales.



Good points. I know it is a raffle and not an auction. Once I find out more details I'll see how I could benefit best from it.
 
When Im approached about donating my service what I usually do is donate an exterior servce package, this serves 2 purposes for me 1, I wont have to spend a workday doing a freebee realizing no money and 2, I usually convince the winner of the service to upgrade to a complete interior and exterior detail this at least nets me the money for the interior and puts some money in my pocket for the time spent on the vehicle. What I do find worthwhile is purchasing a vendor spot at local car shows its usually only $25 - $35 dollars for the day, I set up my canopy and my trailer with a table and sit there handing out flyers and cards and answering questions and usually my grown son ( who works for me ) and my daughters will walk the crowd handing out flyiers and pointing out our display. I run a raffle for an exteriordetail and this generates a mailing list for me to use in the future, I have never done a show and not get any work from it and usuallyeven get a job or 2 in the future from that show generated mailing list
 
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