How can I involve my volunteers in marketing my non-profit thrift store?

1. 58

   ElleBeeposted 11 years ago

   How can I involve my volunteers in marketing my non-profit thrift store?
   
   I manage a thrift store for a non-profit. We receive lots of donations and sales have been increasing, but I still need to increase my customer base and turn over merchandise more quickly.  Any suggestions for involving my store volunteers in marketing the store?

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2. 70

   connorjposted 11 years ago

   
   
   I am not sure if you have the authority to do this or for that matter if it can indeed be done without jeopardizing the non-profit nature of the business relative to tax code; however, I would suggest rewarding your volunteers for bringing in customers by allowing them to have something from your stock. This may provide the momentum they need to assist with increasing your customers. Perhaps finding out what is somewhat valuable to your volunteers will discern what to do for them so they are driven to help you bring in more customers. This is simply a B.F. Skinner Behaviorism approach to this situation...

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   1. 58

      ElleBeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      THere are definitely some  thrift stores that do this, and we could do it in a way that doesn't compromise our non-profit status - my supervisor and I were actually discussing soemthing somewhat similar to this earlier today.

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3. 80

   ketageposted 11 years ago

   Approach the local small businesses to help you advertise your thrift store, word of mouth is the best advertising media.
   Ask your volunteers if they know any shop owners, who would be willing to put a stack of leaflets on their counter top to advertise your thrift store, point out that it is non-profit. Most of us are regular shoppers somewhere and have made friends with the local grocer or butcher.

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4. 87

   purl3agonyposted 11 years ago

   Ask your volunteers to host "shopping days" for their friends!  Open specially for them one night after hours, and have your volunteers invite their friends for this special shopping event.  Have some refreshments (that the volunteers provide), maybe a special discount or coupons that they can then pass on to their friends.
   
   I don't know what type of thrift store it is, but maybe your volunteers can help pick out outfits or unique items for their friends.  A lot of stores host these events, why not thrift stores? 

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   1. 58

      ElleBeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I LOVE this idea! Our store is unfortunately in an iffy area so I'd hesitate to do an after-hours nighttime event, but I could definitely do a Saturday afternoon event since we close early on Saturdays.

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5. 93

   lorddraven2000posted 11 years ago

   Have them wear t-shirts with the store details on them in public. Make the shirts catchy to the eye and have the people be ready to answer any questions about the store. You can also go the flyer route but I find flyers to be time consuming with little turn around.

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6. 81

   Mitch Alanposted 11 years ago

   Have each volunteer post a weekly or daily facebook post as a "check-in" at the store's FB page. Have them feature a high demand item or a "special" deal. This is free and easy to do. It will show up on their wall and their friends will see it. If their friends "like" the post, then it will show up on their wall as well. You can even have a contest for whoever gets the most likes in a week. Buy the volunteer with the most likes in a week lunch.

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   1. 58

      ElleBeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oooh good idea! We use Facebook a lot, but I definitely have not been engaging my volunteers in sharing our posts as much as I could.  This could defnitely help!

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