Christmas Ornament Fundraiser: Full Guide + 7 Success Tips
- Are you interested in raising money for your organization by planning a Christmas ornament fundraiser?
- Are you worried about the steep competition of holiday fundraisers? Do you want to stand out and make your fundraiser a success?
- Are you unsure about the profitability of Christmas ornament fundraising?
- Are you struggling to choose the right vendor? Or are you simply looking for creative Christmas ornament fundraising ideas?
No matter what your struggles with an ornament fundraiser are, this article will help you overcome those. In this article, we will be providing a comprehensive breakdown of holiday ornament fundraising packed with actionable tips that will make your fundraiser highly profitable.
Selling custom Christmas ornaments is a great way to engage your community while also generating revenue for your cause. But for the fundraiser to be a success, you must carefully evaluate your options.
Plan well and strategize key aspects of the designing, marketing, and selling of Christmas ornaments. Read this guide to fully understand exactly how to leverage the holiday season and generate the most profits from your holiday fundraiser.
Did you know ➡️
In 2022, holiday retail sales in the United States were estimated to be around $936.3 billion, demonstrating high consumer engagement during this season.
Types of Christmas Ornaments For Fundraising
Christmas ornaments being the primary sales offering for your fundraiser, it is imperative to select designs and types that perfectly match your buyers’ needs. So before you get creative with the types, determine exactly whom you want to sell to.
Would you be selling to corporates, your own community, a religious group, students, or youth? Define your target audience. If you want to stand out, niche down.
Choose a very specific type of Christmas ornaments and make your organization renowned as a special provider of that type.
Some ornament types to choose from include –
1. Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Handmade Christmas ornaments are a great way to add a personal touch to your fundraiser. You can recruit volunteers to create unique ornaments using a variety of materials, such as paper, felt, or clay.
These ornaments can be sold individually or in sets, and you can even offer custom orders for customers who want something specific.
Handmade Christmas ornaments are ideal if you’re catering to a crowd that doesn’t mind spending a few extra bucks to get their hands on items that are unique and special.
2. Traditional Manufactured Ornaments
For a more traditional approach, you can sell manufactured ornaments that are mass-produced. These ornaments can be purchased in bulk from a variety of suppliers, and you can choose from a wide range of styles and designs.
This option is great if you don’t have the resources to create your own ornaments or if you want to offer a wide range of options to your customers.
Opt for traditional ornaments, if you plan to sell at mass gatherings, holiday fundraising fairs or as part of a multiple holiday product offerings.
3. Signature Ornaments
Signature ornaments are unique ornaments that are designed specifically for your fundraiser.
You can work with a designer to create a custom ornament that reflects your organization’s mission or values.
These ornaments can be sold for a higher price than traditional ornaments, and they can be a great way to generate buzz and excitement around your fundraiser.
These ornaments are excellent for organizations that are large or that work in partnership with large corporates with specific charitable goals.
4. Antique, Vintage Ornament Sale
If you have access to antique or vintage Christmas ornaments, you can sell them at your fundraiser.
These ornaments are often highly sought after by collectors, and they can be a great way to raise a significant amount of money.
You can also accept donations of antique or vintage ornaments from members of your community.
If your target customers are high-networth individuals, artists, or collectors of antiques, opting for this type of Christmas ornament will reap great results.
5. Personalized Ornaments
Personalized ornaments are a great way to offer a unique and memorable product to your customers. You can offer a variety of customization options, such as adding a name or date to the ornament.
These ornaments can be sold individually or in sets, and they can be a great way to generate repeat business.
Personalized ornaments are also perfectly suitable for sale on large-scale online platforms. They can cater to a wider range of holiday shoppers.
If you have the ability to source in bulk or produce customized ornaments in large quantities, you could raise a significant amount of money from these.
6. DIY Ornament Kits
DIY ornament kits are a great option for customers who want to create their own ornaments at home. You can offer a variety of kits that include all the materials and instructions needed to create a specific ornament.
These kits can be sold individually or in sets, and they can be a great offering at school fundraisers.
Putting together DIY Ornament Kits could involve some volunteer hours. The extra packing material may also add to your production or sourcing costs. But if you are likely to have access to a large volume of customers, the lower profitability won’t negatively impact you and could be offset by volume sales.
Christmas Ornament Fundraising – Success Tips
Profitability per product is hardly ever a challenge when it comes to holiday fundraisers. Christmas ornaments typically allow a profitability of 40-50% per product.
So the factor that differentiates is how the fundraiser is planned and executed.
So here are some practical, highly effective tips to make your fundraiser a roaring success.
1. Niche Down To Scale
As stated earlier, if you want your fundraiser to stand out from the crowd, make it specific to a target audience.
Trying to please everyone increases sourcing and marketing costs and adds very little to your organization’s kitty.
Get clear on why you are raising funds, how you want to use those funds, and who would serve as the best customer fit.
This clarity will help you determine what type of ornaments to sell, the marketing efforts required and the potential costs.
Your organization would miss out on the year’s biggest fundraising opportunity if it operates without a well chalked out plan.
2. Apply The 80-20 Method
The objective behind this tip again is to carefully evaluate your options and only work on those that are likely to bring in the most funds.
If one corporate partnership would be worth selling at 20 Christmas fairs, focus on scoring that partnership.
If listing your Christmas ornaments on one portal is likely to raise you funds worth 5 other, ditch the 5 other platforms and focus one.
Pruning off the less effective options keeps costs low and over time every extra cent earned contributes to the success of your fundraiser.
3. Consider Various Sourcing Options
If raising funds is your primary goal, get quotes from various ornament sellers. Don’t just compare prices. Take into consideration ancillary factors that add up to the costs like
- minimum order value
- shipping costs
- customization costs
- packaging costs
- promotional material costs
- deposit terms
After carefully evaluating the various quotes, also look at the reputation of the supplier. Does the supplier deliver on time? Can he handle large orders? Does the quality remain consistent?
Finally, choose a vendor that’s cost-effective and reliable – one that would not hinder your organization’s goodwill due to poor service.
4. Consider Clubbing With Multiple Offerings
We are not big advocates of pleasing the masses or putting together a wide range of offerings. We think it adds costs, effort and reduces the effectiveness of a fundraiser.
But if you are a small group of people coming together to raise funds for a cause, or if you are planning a small-scale Christmas fundraiser at your school, church’s local event, etc., you could consider putting up a stall with multiple offerings such as Christmas wreaths for charity, Christmas trees, wrapping papers for holidays, etc.
This way you can attract customers with diverse requirements and the lack of competition would mean that you would sell more.
5. Start Planning Well In Advance
The holiday season may begin in December but the planning season must start a few months in advance.
As the holidays get closer, sellers run out of products, charge a premium, or don’t deliver on time.
Your rushed planning may also result in costly mistakes that could bring down the profitability of your fundraiser.
So if you’re serious about hosting a Christmas ornament fundraiser
- Get quotes around September/October
- Place your orders by October end
- Promote heavily between October to December
6. Make Your Presentation Attractive
Competition is one of the biggest challenges to overcome when executing a holiday fundraiser.
To stand out from the crowd, you must focus on your presentation.
If you are selling online,
- spend on high-quality product listing photography
- talented marketing team
- talented graphic designers who design highly attractive customer-centric promotional media
- Social media and traffic ads to make you reach newer audiences that fit your ideal customer profile (big prices during the holiday season are much higher)
If you’re selling offline (at stalls, fairs, etc.)
- Make sure your stall is the most attractively laid out stall
- Make sure each ornament or Christmas offering is clearly visible
- Make sure your booth has a festive vibe to it
- Spend some extra money to secure premium booth spots at fairs
7. Add Stories To Your Promotional Events
In holiday markets flooded with Christmas offerings, one of the most effective ways to connect with your ideal customer base is by sharing stories that connect.
Share stories of those who have benefitted from your fundraiser. Talk about how their lives have changed.
Talk about your organization’s roots, and its objectives through videos by your founders.
If you’re raising funds for a specific cause or a project, provide on-site footage of the project.
Make sure your videos tell a consistent story of positive change in a highly ethical but relatable manner.
The fact that you’re tied to a cause someone deeply cares about is very often the only reason they buy from you even when there are plenty of cheaper offerings all around.
Christmas Ornaments Fundraiser – FAQs
What are some popular types of Christmas ornaments to sell?
There are many types of Christmas ornaments that are popular to sell at fundraisers.
Some of the most popular types include personalized ornaments, glass ornaments, wooden ornaments, and brass ornaments.
Glass ornaments are also popular because they are beautiful and come in a variety of designs. Wooden ornaments are a great option for those who prefer a more rustic look, while brass ornaments are perfect for those who want a more traditional look.
How can I make my brass ornaments stand out at a fundraiser?
If you are selling brass ornaments at your fundraiser, there are a few things you can do to make them stand out.
- First, consider offering a variety of designs, such as snowflakes, stars, and angels. This will give customers more options to choose from and increase the likelihood that they will find something they like.
- Second, consider offering personalized brass ornaments that can be engraved with a name or message. This will make the ornament even more special and increase its perceived value.
- Finally, make sure that your brass ornaments are displayed prominently at your fundraiser so that customers can easily see and admire them.
What are some creative ways to decorate Christmas trees for a fundraiser?
There are many creative ways to decorate Christmas trees for a fundraiser. One idea is to decorate the tree with ornaments that represent different countries or cultures. Another idea is to decorate the tree with ornaments that are made by local artists or artisans.
You could also consider decorating the tree with ornaments that represent different themes, such as sports, music, or animals. Whatever theme you choose, make sure that the ornaments are displayed in an attractive and eye-catching way, so that customers will be drawn to them.
What is the best way to price Christmas ornaments for a fundraiser?
The best way to price Christmas ornaments for a fundraiser is to consider the cost of the ornament, as well as the perceived value.
You want to make sure that the price is reasonable and affordable, while still allowing you to make a profit. One way to do this is to price the ornaments based on their size and complexity. For example, larger and more intricate ornaments could be priced higher than smaller and simpler ones.
You could also consider offering discounts for bulk purchases, or for customers who donate a certain amount to your fundraiser.
Are there any tips for marketing a Christmas ornament fundraiser?
Yes, there are several tips for marketing a Christmas ornament fundraiser.
- Make sure that you promote your fundraiser well in advance so that people have time to plan and prepare. Use social media, email newsletters, and flyers to spread the word.
- Partnering with local businesses or organizations to help promote your fundraiser. This will help you reach a wider audience and increase your chances of success.
- Use stories about your charitable cause, and fundraising efforts in your promotional activity to build a deep connection with your target customer.
How can I ensure the ornaments I sell are high quality and durable?
To ensure that the ornaments you sell are high quality and durable, it’s important to choose a reputable supplier. Look for suppliers who have a good reputation and who use high-quality materials.
You should also consider testing the ornaments yourself, to make sure that they are sturdy and well-made.
Finally, make sure that you provide clear care instructions to customers so that they can keep their ornaments looking beautiful for years to come.
