Monday, April 30, 2012

Last Minute Fundraising Success

People tend to put things off, its just part of human nature.  When you are just a few weeks away from your deadline and you are falling short of your fundraising goal is it time to panic?

As we countdown the days, here are a few last minute tips to help you with that final fundraising push.

Contact your contacts again.

We always see a spike in donations the last weeks before a deadline, so don’t be afraid to send your page out to your contacts again.

People don’t always donate straight away. You might have emailed them when they were busy, at the wrong end of pay day or they could have just innocently forgotten. Also, even if they’ve already sponsored you, they’ll still be interested to hear how you’re doing.

Give your colleagues a reason to donate again by organizing a pool. For a small, set donation, they get to guess your total fundraising amount. The person with the closest dollar value wins the pool.

But if the thought of everyone betting on your fundraising adds a little too much extra pressure, have a different kind of sweepstake. How about asking them to guess how many sweets are in a jar? Wash out an old jam jar, buy a few bags of sweets and not only have you got a reason to ask people for more donations, you have a sugary prize as an extra incentive.

At what seems like the last minute you can always consider calling Sunset Coupons 800-627-6340 to see if we can help you meet your fundraising goal.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340

http://sunsetcoupons.com

Friday, April 27, 2012

Sunset Coupon Books Your Next Fundraiser

Sunset Coupons can show you how to easily raise money for your Non-profit, Church, School, Sports Team or Youth Group.

Your Customers will find that Sunset Coupon Books have hundreds of dollars in savings from merchants in your area. The savings enjoyed from using just a single coupon can pay for the book. Clients will save every time they use a coupon and who doesn’t need to save money these days?

Sunset Coupon Books are small enough to fit in a pocket or purse yet contain over 40 family-friendly coupons such as 2 for 1 Meals, and Attractions like Bowling, Mini-Golf, Skating, etc; a combined value of over $400 in savings.  Invest $10 dollars and save $400, sounds like a real deal to me.

Local coupon book editions are available in Phoenix, The East Valley, Tucson and Salt Lake City.

NO UP FRONT COST

Sunset Coupons will consign books to bonafide established organizations. Call 1-800-627-6340 to see how your group can begin raising money with no out of pocket expense.

PERSONALIZED BOOKS

We can imprint your group or school name and/or logo on the cover.

Sunset Coupons is a proven moneymaker with over $4 million raised.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
800-627-6340

http://sunsetcoupons.com

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Locations We Don’t Cover

Sunset Coupon Books cover the Metro Phoenix Arizona area, Tempe and Mesa Arizona, Tucson Arizona  and Salt Lake City Utah.  We can help fundraising groups like Schools, Sports Teams, Youth Groups, Churches or Non-profits in just those four areas.

We do get request from outside of our market areas and are asked where they might look  We link to the All Fundraising Companies Directory (http://www.fundraisingweb.org) and you may want to consider using them as a resource in your area.

You can always follow our blog (you are reading it now) as we talk about different types of fundraisers that give you great ideas for your next fundraiser.  Just click the “Join this site” button under our Followers header on the right hand side of this page.

Our Sunset Coupon books sell for only $10 each. You pay $5 for them so you make $5 for your fundraising group or organization, for a full 100% profit.  Sunset Coupon Books are small enough (just 5½ by 2 ¾ inches) to fit in a pocket or purse, yet each book contains over 40 family-friendly coupons such as 2 for 1 Meals, and Attractions like Bowling, Mini-Golf, Skating, etc; from local merchants with a combined value of over $400 in savings.

So give Sunset Copon Books a call and see how we can help with your next fundraiser.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Does a Celebrity Help Raise Money?

Many times people who are in charge of raising money for a group try to tie a celebrity (local or otherwise) to their fundraising effort, many times find that it doesn’t always mean more money raised. 

In general a “star” for your project can mean more people will show up for the event.  It doesn’t mean that those attending will always donate to your cause.  You want to make sure that you are not just offering a way for people to see or meet with your star unrelated to helping you raise money.

You want to make sure that meeting the celebrity itself is the fundraising act.   In order to meet the star you must attend a dinner or event with a significant fee.   The best combination is that the celebrity has direct tie to your event or organization. This can be that a baseball player works well helping a little league team raise money.  If you are using a well know speaker to help you raise money this is better scenario for the increased draw in attendance.  A speakers draw is normally unrelated to the organization and more to their topic.

Your overall event can arrange several different and separate mini events to utilize your celebrity.  You could start with a cocktail hour, followed by a dinner and you could end up with an hour long informal meet and greet to end the night.  In your communications it needs to be clear that these are three unique and separate events and that each has its own donation structure.

Each part of your gala has to meet the needs of those attending so that a follow-up event has a good reputation as its legacy.

Need a more focused and timely fundraising opportunity.  Call Sunset Coupons and see how we can help your organizations fundraising efforts.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

How Does Sunset Coupon Books Work?

What is a Sunset Coupon Book?  First, they are a great method to raise funds for your non-profit or charity group.  Each booklet contains many coupons from your local merchants that offer free and deeply discounted items.

How does Sunset Coupons work? When your group wants to raise money needed to meet your current goal give us a call at 800-627-6340.  We can talk about the dollar amount you want to raise and then custom print covers (minimum 100) for your individual fundraising promotion.

You can start at no charge if you are a recognized group.  Your members can use many methods to sell your coupon books and each one you sell provides $5.00 for your organization.

Sunset Coupon Books contain hundreds of dollars in savings from local merchants. The savings enjoyed from using just one or two coupons will pay for the book. And who doesn’t appreciate saving money these days?

Sunset Coupon Books are small enough to fit in a pocket or purse.  Each Sunset Coupon Book contain more than 40 family-friendly coupons such as 2 for 1 Meals, and Attractions like Bowling, Mini-Golf, Skating, etc.

Keep in mind that each fundraising coupon book has a combined value of more than $400 in customer savings.

Unlike bigger more expensive coupon books that offer mostly 10% or 20% discounts, Sunset Coupon Books contain mainly 2 for 1 and 50% off discounts. Our customers only need to use 1 or 2 coupons to get their $10 investment back. We find that your customers will like our book much better because it is a better value.

Fundraising the Quick & Easy Way with Sunset Coupon Books!

Give us a call at 800-627-6340, we are always happy to help you with your next fundraiser!

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Monday, April 23, 2012

Learn To Go Beyond Your Warm Market

Many times those involved in fundraising limit their marketing to their warm market.  Their family, close friends and co-workers make up their warm market.  Those people are the ones that the fundraiser is normally comfortable in contacting when they need to help raise money for their group or organization.

After you have tried selling to your warm market list there are two groups that you can move on to. 

Your Acquaintance Market is made up of classmates, associates, or old friends that you know personally but don’t have contact info for. This group usually amounts to nearly a thousand contacts or more.

The third group is called your Like Minded Market and it is made up of groups and clubs you belong to, causes, hobbies, and other interest groups you associate with. You usually don’t know these people personally nor do you have their contact info.

The challenge has been to somehow cultivate relationships and best prospecting efforts for not only your Warm Market but beyond, to those you don’t know personally or have contact info for. Traditional cold calling or visits don’t stand a chance with these people. In fact, these methods don’t fare well with your warm market. Email is an improvement, especially with your Acquaintance and Warm Markets. However, social media networking has proven to be an amazing and successful way to approach all three.

When involved in fundraising for your group you need to apply another adage.  There is a very lighthearted definition of the market for your fundraising.  “As long as they are breathing they are buyers.”

Need help for your next fundraising project, call Sunset Coupons at 800-627-6340.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Friday, April 20, 2012

What Our Customers Are saying

Here are some things our customers are saying about us. 

Just wanted to thank Sunset Coupons for this wonderful fundraiser! It’s a great way to make a profit for our school and not lose any school funds in the process! Thanks for all your guidance and for contacting us to begin with!
Chloe Hatfield
Tucson, Arizona

Thank you so much for providing such a fantastic coupon book for us to offer as a fund raiser! The price was right and the Sunset Coupons were perfect for families or just for friends to have. We are a high school, so we found that even students like purchasing them because it made getting out with their friends more affordable. Kudos to you for offering something truly of value! We look forward to many more fund raising opportunities! Keep up the great work!
Joanne Richardson
Sandy, Utah

On behalf of the Southwest Unity Celebration Committee, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to sell the Sunset Coupon Booklets for our fundraiser. The coupon booklets literally sold themselves due to the variety of discounts offered.
Patricia L. White
Phoenix, Arizona

Sunset Coupons Fundraiser was perfect for our organization, Peoria High School Marching Band. The students raised a nice sum of money for band without spending any money. The Booster Club said they would like to do it again.
Janet Gatzen
Glendale, Arizona

Sunset Coupons offered our school, Red Mountain High School, an alternative to the Entertainment Book or restaurant cards – which are a dime a dozen on school campuses. it catered to businesses within our boundaries, and boosted our accounts.
RMHS Student Council
Mesa, Arizona

Call today and see how Sunset Coupons can help you with your next fundraiser. 800-627-6340

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Selling, A Valuable Learned Skill

Selling: The word by itself seems to have a chilling, scary feel for some people.  We do it all the time.  You eat a restaurant and have a great experience.  You see a movie that you just love.  Now, share those with your friends.  That word-of-mouth is the most basic form of selling.  When you make a recommendation about a product or service to someone you are “selling” that brand to them.  You share information with family, friends and co-workers all the time.  You can over hear a conversation between complete strangers and if you know something that might help them you just might interrupt and offer the advice you think would be helpful.  

You are selling at that point.  Yes, it is understood that you don’t expect something back or in return for this information.  But, you are selling or promoting that product or service.  You feel that your advice may save that person time or trouble or give them a pleasant experience and you don’t expect anything beyond an appreciation of the simple act of sharing.  A its very best that is what happens when you sell something.

If you or a youngster of yours are selling something for a group or organization that is trying to raise money for a good cause you can be more successful if you know some basic rules of selling.

The first is to have a good understanding of the product or service you are offering.  It really helps that you like and feel comfortable making this offer to both your family and friends (that is called your warm market) and complete strangers.  Keep in mind what your are “selling” has a good value to your buyer and will bring them benefits.

Second is a big one… Be Positive.  Not even friends or family will buy from you if you don’t have a positive attitude about the product or service you are offering.  The worst they can say is NO.  That isn’t a rejection of you, but simply an answer of, No, not now.  Or No, that is something I will never or can never use.  Even when the answer is no, a sincere, heart felt “Thank You” is required.

Third, never, that is NEVER; ask the sales question in any form that can be answered by the word, NO!  An example is “Do you want to buy __________ ?” Why, they won’t really listen and the knee jerk response is “NO!”.  Learn to ask a question that is phrased along these lines.  These great ________ are only $_______ do you want one or two?

Forth, learn to get their attention first.  That is a great selling rule, “First Get Their Attention.”  If you are selling products on location you may want to be able to shout out, “I’m giving away free Lunches” Make sure your hook is true.  Never get their attention with what amounts to a lie.  At best your potential buyer will be disappointed and a worst they may feel cheated and Not buy!  Once you have their attention, the buyers will approach you with buying based questions.

If your fundraiser doesn’t have a great hook call Sunset Coupons and find out about selling a coupon book full of Free Lunches.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Yes, You Have To Understand Selling


That word “sell” scares a lot of people.  Somehow people tend to think that selling is hard, that selling is a bad thing.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Yes, there are people who are trying to sell and doing it badly.  They don’t know how to “sell” and they end up using high pressure and tricks to accomplish their goal.  They give selling a bad rap.

There is a saying… “Nothing happens till somebody sells something.”  Large companies start the process of selling by running carefully made advertisements presented across different types of media.  Those ads tell the story of the product or service.  The ads put forth the benefits of using the product so the viewer or listener feels they need to purchase that product.

Ads are designed to “pre-sell” the product or service.  They find one of the basic desires that are common to all people and “sell” that to the ads viewer.  What follows, in a perfect word, is a pre-sold customer who goes to a local vendor and makes a purchase.

That is one type of selling.  But the very first thing that a commercial must do is very basic.  The commercial needs to get the persons attention.  The ad needs a “hook”.  The “hook” is the one thing that draws a person attention to the story of the ad.

What does all this have to do with fundraising.  The process is the very same whether you are selling a product to make money for your organization or simply asking for a donation.  You must first sell the “need” that your group has for the money raised.

When you are selling a product it can take away for the ultimate need for the money.  The person, the customer, may focus on the product before they think of the “need” your organization has.  Do they like the product, the color, the flavor or the need for it.

When your product is a Coupon Book that features many different money saving opportunities that allow them to pick and chose their favorites, you have a big advantage.  When all the coupons are only local businesses you have a real edge.  That is the basis of why Sunset Coupons books are your best friend when it comes to local fundraising. 

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Your Fundraising Partner’s Products, Do They Fit?

This week we are looking at what makes a good match for your church, sports group or non-profit organization when it comes to picking a product to offer in your upcoming fundraiser.

In the past you had a choice of many products to sell in your fundraiser.  Chocolate bars, calendars, gift wrap, bracelets, beef jerky, candles and cookbooks to name just a few.  Today you can add in a variety of products supplied by local businesses who look at using fundraiser to be a revenue stream for their business.

No matter your source of products you want to consider that Direct Selling is a faster way to raise money than a set-up where you first take orders and then have to go back later and deliver your products.  With Direct Selling you are selling and delivering at the same time.

You want to make sure that your fundraising partner has been doing fundraising for many years.  You want to make sure that there are no spoilage built into your products.  Is the product easy to carry if you are going door-to-door.  Twenty-five one pound chocolate bars are a large load for a young person to manage if there are selling in a neighborhood.  Some products can too fragile or temperature sensitive.  You have a real problem trying to sell chocolate bars after mid April in hot climates.

Keep in mind that some products can only be sold at a fixed location.  Some products (keep fresh food products in mind) even require meeting health department regulations that protect the public.

The old saying "You get what you pay for." Is true for fundraiser campaigns and they're fundraising products. The quality of the product you sell to your supporter is a direct reflection of your group. It will also have a direct effect the next time you fund raise. Higher quality fundraising products will leave people with a positive image of your cause. It will also make your current and next fundraiser easier because supporters will be eager to buy from you, resulting in higher profit.

A consumer will be happy to support a worthy cause, however they won't be very interested in paying for inferior or significantly overpriced products. Remember that your fundraiser may be an annual or semi-annual event, and nothing builds profits like a reputation for offering top quality products.  So what is the quality of the products from your Fundraising Partner?  Does that quality match the price you must ask at the sale?

Need to set-up your next fundraiser?  Call Sunset Coupons and find out how Sunset Coupon Books will make your next fundraiser a success. 

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons, LLC
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Monday, April 16, 2012

Choosing The Right Fundraising Vendor

It seems these days that nearly every business is trying to use fundraising sales to increase their bottom line.  From doughnut shops to pizza places they all seem to have a program to sell you a product that you can resell.

These businesses typically aren’t looking at a program designed to help your organization raise funds.  They look at fundraising as an area that allows them to sell more products.  Yes, of course, there are many fine business that really take a community fundraiser to heart and are not doing solely as a profit center.

What you have to be careful of is buying product that has a very short shelf life that you need to sell all or most of the product to make a small percentage profit.  If you are buying products from a business at little or no discount it makes it very difficult to resell at a profit margin for your organization that really makes you money.  If spoilage becomes a problem it is very easy to do all the work and have little to nothing to show for your groups efforts.

The ideal vendor is one who understands and truly supports your fundraising efforts and is set up to have no spoilage and a base of fifty percent profit on each sale.  So when your sale or fundraiser is over you know you are keeping a true half share of the money raised.

So your Fundraising vendor check list must start with;

1.    No spoilage or possible loss
2.    Getting half of the selling price right in your pocket.
3.    No up front costs for recognized groups

If you need more information please call Sunset Coupons at 800-627-6340.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Friday, April 13, 2012

The Perfect Fundraiser for Phoenix, Tempe / Mesa, Tucson or Salt Lake

Fundraising is Easy with Sunset Coupon Books

Easily raise money for your School, Sports Team, Youth Group, Church or Non-profit.

Sunset Coupon Books contain hundreds of dollars in savings from local merchants. The savings enjoyed from using just one or two coupons will pay for the book. And who doesn’t need to save money these days?

Sunset Coupon Books are small enough to fit in a pocket or purse yet contain over 40 family-friendly coupons such as 2 for 1 Meals, and Attractions like Bowling, Mini-Golf, Skating, etc; a combined value of over $400 in savings.

Local coupon book editions are available in Phoenix, Tempe / Mesa, Tucson and Salt Lake City.

NO UP FRONT COST
Sunset Coupons will consign books to bonafide established organizations. Call to see how your group can begin raising money with no out of pocket expense.

PERSONALIZED BOOKS
We can imprint your group or school name and/or logo on the cover.

Call Today 1-800-627-6340

Sunset Coupons is a proven moneymaker with over $4 million raised.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Never Turn Away Donations

I know that sounds like a true given, Never Turn Away Donations.  But, many people do just that.  First, let me say there are times and situations that make this advice a non “doable” proposition.

If you are just accepting donations you want to make sure you can accept whatever “donations” you are offered.  Those donations can come in the form of cash, checks or credit cards.  To maximize you donations you need to make sure that all forms of donations can and will be accepted.

Many charities have found that adding credit cards to their acceptable donations have raised the totals of the donations by thirty-three to fifty percent.  If the simple option of accepting credit cards can nearly double your donation amounts, why would you not offer that option.

Yes, there are expenses incurred when accepting credit cards.  Most groups that use credit cards find that the overall cost for the percentage and fees they incur when using credit cards run around five percent.  That means that after expenses the use of credit cards will increase the overall donations by twenty-eight to forty-five percent. 

In some cases the fees that banks charge for handling checks that are returned for whatever reason can actually exceed the five percent from accepting credit cards.

So consider using all three forms of donations, cash, checks and credit cards for your next fundraising campaign. 

At Sunset Coupons we want to help you make your next fundraiser easier and more successful.  Give us a call at 602-279-0404 to find out how we can help your group.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Fundraising Basic Ideas

Learn Good Communication Skills
Polish your letter writing skills.  Good communications in either email or snail mail.  Well-written letters to family, friends and members of the community is a personal approach that gets results. Target around fifty recipients and don’t be shy in recommending a minimum donation amount. Always make sure your letter is personally addressed to the correct recipients. 

People often want to contribute to causes but only hesitate when they’re not sure of an appropriate donation amount. Remember, there’s nothing impersonal about an electronically-produced letter provided it’s signed by hand. 

Promote Your Cause
Learn and use promotional techniques.  These can be many forms that are free, rather than paid ads.  You can use friendly radio stations and provide information or an interview format to get your message out.

Several reputable blogging services like Wordpress, Tumblr, Blogger offer an impressive array of attractive templates which mean you don’t have to be at all technically inclined to produce an amazing blog. Post about your fundraising initiatives and use photos wherever possible to keep interest. Share your web site address liberally and you’ll soon see what a useful tool this is to communicate your fundraising initiatives and other happenings.  

Plan An Event
Church bazaars, community dinners and bake sale are all fun examples of fundraising events that you can and should consider when raising funds. Naturally, people love to have fun, so an event is always an engaging approach. Be sure to have lots of snacks and treats at the ready for guests to purchase – it’s an easy way to earn extra profits! Candy bars, lollipops and beef jerky are favorites  

Give and You'll Receive:
Kick off contributions by making your own donation to the fund first. It doesn’t have to be a huge amount, but even chipping in the amount of money you might have spent on your morning coffee run or eating out for lunch is an excellent start. When others see the small sacrifices you’re willing to make, they’ll get in the spirit, too.  

You Must Say Thank You
No matter the size the contribution, send a thank-you note by email or by mail to let them know how much you appreciate their support. The simple act of saying thank you often will result in future donations.  

If you need to raise funds for your Phoenix Arizona group or non-profit give Sunset Coupons a call at 602-279-0404 for a faster and easier way to do your next fundraiser.  

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Special Phoenix Fundraising Events

No matter how elegant or fun your event is, if you don't get people to attend, your efforts are wasted. Attendance is not spurred so much by publicity as by selling tickets. You need a lot of boots on the ground selling tickets. Although this is the least glamorous task, it is essential. Recruit a lot of volunteers since, on average, most volunteer ticket sellers will sell about five tickets each. 

Try out different price points for your tickets. Have the majority of tickets priced for everyone, but offer higher priced tickets that provide an extra benefit. 

Think of your event as a long-term commitment. Organize one that you can repeat at least once a year and perhaps more. Also, invest in reporting and analysis tools that will provide the feedback you need to improve the event each time. 

Special events can also generate a lot of publicity. Whoever is doing your public relations will find a myriad of methods for getting the word out, from fliers to interviews with local media. Building your events visibility in the community is crucial to successful fundraising. 

Use special events as a way to provide fundraising experience to your volunteers, including your board members. Selling tickets to an event is less anxiety producing than making a personal call on a donor. Help volunteers build confidence through your event activities. 

In-kind contributions such as donations of food, the venue, or entertainment. Why is this useful? In-kind contributions are easier to get from a business without a prior relationship. But, it might be a foot in the door to other contributions.

Sponsorships are commonly used to increase the income from events. Sponsors pay for various benefits such as publicity through the event, an ad in the program or a company logo displayed prominently. 

If you need to raise funds for your Phoenix Arizona group or non-profit give Sunset Coupons a call at 602-279-0404 for a faster and easier way to do your next fundraiser. 

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Friday, April 6, 2012

Easter Traditions Around The World

As with other Christian festivals, the celebration of Easter extends beyond the church. Since its origins, it has been a time of celebration and feasting and many traditional Easter games and customs developed, such as egg rolling, egg tapping, pace egging and egg decorating. Today Easter is commercially important, seeing wide sales of greeting cards and confectionery such as chocolate Easter eggs, marshmallow bunnies, Peeps, and jelly beans. Even many non-Christians celebrate these aspects of the holiday while eschewing the religious aspects.

Many central and eastern European ethnic groups, including the Albanians, Belarusians, Bulgarians, Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Macedonians, Poles, Romanians, Russians, Serbs, Slovaks, Slovenes, and Ukrainians decorate eggs for Easter.In Croatia and Slovenia, a basket of food is prepared and covered with a handmade cloth, and brought to the church to be blessed. A typical Easter basket includes bread, colored eggs, ham, horseradish, and a type of nut cake called "potica". The butter lamb (Baranek wielkanocny) is a traditional addition to the Easter Meal for many Polish Catholics. Butter is shaped into a lamb either by hand or in a lamb-shaped mould. In Hungary, Transylvania, Southern Slovakia, Kárpátalja, Northern Serbia - Vojvodina and other territories with Hungarian-speaking communities, the day following Easter is called Locsoló Hétfő, "Watering Monday". Water, perfume or perfumed water is often sprinkled in exchange for an Easter egg. In Bulgaria the Easter eggs are decorated on Thursday before Easter.

Throughout the English-speaking world, many Easter traditions are similar with only minor differences. For example, Saturday is traditionally spent decorating Easter eggs and hunting for them with children on Sunday morning, by which time they have been mysteriously hidden all over the house and garden. Other traditions involve parents telling their children that eggs and other treats such as chocolate eggs or rabbits, and marshmallow chicks (Peeps), have been delivered by the Easter Bunny in an Easter basket, which children find waiting for them when they wake up. Many families observe the religious aspects of Easter by attending Sunday Mass or services in the morning and then participating in a feast or party in the afternoon. Some families have a traditional Sunday roast, often of either roast lamb or ham. Easter breads such as Simnel cake, a fruit cake with eleven marzipan balls representing the eleven faithful apostles, or nut breads such as potica are traditionally served. Hot cross buns, spiced buns with a cross on top, are traditionally associated with Good Friday, but today are often eaten well before and after.

In Scotland, the north of England, and Northern Ireland, the traditions of rolling decorated eggs down steep hills and pace egging are still adhered to.

In Louisiana, USA, egg tapping is known as egg knocking. Marksville, Louisiana claims to host the oldest egg-knocking competition in the US, dating back to the 1950s. Competitors pair up on the steps of the courthouse on Easter Sunday and knock the tips of two eggs together. If the shell of your egg cracks you have to forfeit it, a process that continues until just one egg remains.

In the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, historically famous for growing and exporting the Easter lily, the most notable feature of the Easter celebration is the flying of kites to symbolize Christ's ascent. Traditional Bermuda kites are constructed by Bermudians of all ages as Easter approaches, and are normally only flown at Easter. In addition to hot cross buns and Easter eggs, fish cakes are traditionally eaten in Bermuda at this time.

In Finland, Sweden and Denmark, traditions include egg painting and small children dressed as witches collecting candy door-to-door, in exchange for decorated pussy willows. This is a result of the mixing of an old Orthodox tradition (blessing houses with willow branches) and the Scandinavian Easter witch tradition. Brightly colored feathers and little decorations are also attached to birch branches in a vase. In Finland, it is common to plant rye grass in a pot as a symbol of spring and new life. After the grass has grown, many people put chick decorations on it. Children busy themselves painting eggs and making paper bunnies. 

No Matter what your Easter Tradition is we would like to wish you a Happy Easter.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Sunset Coupons Participating Merchants Salt Lake City

Coupons in the Salt Lake City Area Sunset Coupon book

Ab’s Drive-in - Coupon: 2 for 1 Fat Boy Burger
Alberto’s Mexican Food - Coupon: Free Menu Item with the Purchase of a Second Menu Item and a Beverage
Big City Bowl - Coupon: 2 for 1 Bowling (up to 2 Free Games)
Burger House Hamburgers - Coupon: Free Burger with the Purchase of a Second Burger and 2 Beverages
Cherry Hill - Coupon: $3 Off Water Park Pass (Up to 6 People)
Classic Fun Center - Coupon: 2 for 1 Skating Admission
Classic Skating & Waterslides - Coupon: 2 for 1 Waterslide Admission
David’s Pizza - Coupon: 2 for 1 Large Pizza
Dolce Coffee - Coupon: 2 for 1 Entrée
Dylan’s Drive-in - Coupon: 2 for 1 Breakfast
Dylan’s Drive-in - Coupon: 2 for 1 Menu Item
Hungry Bear Restaurant - Coupon: 2 for 1 Menu Item

Jitter Bug Coffee Hop - Coupon: 2 for 1 Menu Item
Leatherby's Family Creamery - Coupon: 2 for 1 Sandwich
Leatherby's Family Creamery - Coupon: 2 for 1 Sundae
Millies Burgers - Coupon: 2 for 1 Sandwich
Mountain Mike's Pizza - Coupon: Free Medium Pizza with the Purchase of a Large Specialty Pizza
Off Broadway Theatre - Coupon: 2 for 1 Admission
Olympus Hills Lanes - Coupon: 2 for 1 Bowling (Up to 3 Free Games)
Orchard Lanes Family Fun Center - Coupon: 2 for 1 Bowling (Up to 3 Free Games)
Paintball Addicts - Coupon: 2 for 1 Full Rental Package
Papa Murphy’s Take ‘n’ Bake Pizza - Coupon: Free deLite Pizza with the Purchase of a Family Size Pizza
Papa Murphy’s Take ‘n’ Bake Pizza - Coupon: 50% Off Pizza with the Purchase of a Second Pizza
Pebble Brook Golf Course - Coupon: 2 for 1 Miniature Golf
Pebble Brook Golf Course - Coupon: 2 for 1 Round of Golf or Bucket of Balls

Red Butte Garden - Coupon: 2 for 1 Admission
Riley’s - Coupon: 2 for 1 Shake
Rock Creek Pizza Co. - Coupon: 2 for 1 Menu Item
Rock Creek Pizza Co. - Coupon: 50% off Pizza with the Purchase of a Second Pizza
Rockreation - Coupon: 2 for 1 Kid's Time or Fight Gravity Class
Roxberry Juice Co. - Coupon: 50% off a Smoothie with the Purchase of a Second Smoothie
Seven Peaks - Coupon: 50% Off Admission with the Purchase of a Second Admission
South Davis Recreation Center - Coupon: 2 for 1 Swimming, Fitness or Ice Skating Admission
Star of India Restaurant - Coupon: Free Entrée with the Purchase of a Second Entrée and 2 Beverages
Surf-n-Swim - Coupon: 2 for 1 Admission
Swan Lakes Golf Course - Coupon: 2 for 1 18 Hole Putting Course or 1 Free Green Fee with the Purchase of 3 Green Fees
Taste of Punjab - Coupon: $10 off the Purchase of 2 Dinner Entrees

That Sandwich Shop - Coupon: 2 for 1 Menu Item
The Belgian Waffle & Omelet Inn - Coupon: 50% Off Menu Item with the purchase of a second Menu Item
The Belgian Waffle & Omelet Inn - Coupon: 50% Off Menu Item with the purchase of a second Menu Item
The Philadelphian Steaks & Sandwiches - Coupon: 2 for 1 Sandwich
The Pie Pizzeria - Coupon: 2 for 1 Cheese Pizza
Tracy Aviary - Coupon: 2 for 1 Admission
Utah Olympic Park - Coupon: 2 for 1 Quicksilver Alpine Slide or Xtreme Zip Line or Ultra Zip Line or Guided Tour Admission
Wasatch Pizza - Coupon: 2 for 1 Pizza
Wasatch Pizza - Coupon: Free Medium Pizza with the Purchase of a Large Pizza
Wienerschnitzel - Coupon: 2 for 1 Chili Cheese Fries Wild Mushroom Pizza & Subs - Coupon: 2 for 1 Pizza
Wild Mushroom Pizza & Subs - Coupon: Free Medium Pizza with the Purchase of a Large Pizza

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Five Youth Sports Team Fundraisers

Youth Sports Teams often have to raise money for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they need new uniforms or new equipment. They may need to raise money for travel expenses to go to a tournament. Whatever that reason is your team is competing with many others for that charity dollar.

1. Goal Kick Fundraiser – Organize your fundraiser at a time when lots of other teams will be in attendance, such as during a tournament. Set up a radar gun to measure the speed of kicks.  Measure the speed (or length) of goal kicks to determine the winners for each age level. Again, a participation fee is the best way to make money with this fundraiser.

2. Scramble Golf Tournament – Find a golf course that will let you use their greens and charge an entry fee, which is the fundraiser element of the tournament. Solicit local merchants for prizes for the tournament.

3. Pie-Eating Contest – This is a great fundraiser to hold after a tournament. What kids wouldn’t want to see how fast they could eat a pie — with no hands? Offer a sports-themed prize for the winner and prepare to get a little messy. To raise funds, charge a participation fee.

4. Fast Pitch Fundraiser – This is similar to a goal kick fundraiser but is only for baseball teams. Set up a radar gun to measure the speed of pitches. Whoever is the fastest in each age group wins a prize donated by local merchants. Charge a participation fee to raise money.

5. Center Ice Shot – Block off most of the hockey goal and let entrants take a shot at the goal. Start with a larger opening and then make it smaller and smaller. The person who gets the puck in the smallest goal wins the grand prize.

Take time to see if Sunset Coupons can arrange a fundraiser for your group.

Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Looking for the Best Spring Fundraisers?

If you are in a school, sports group or a church and need to find some of the top Spring fundraising ideas for your next fund raising event then you need to check out the information in this blog post.  When you finish you will be well on your way to starting a great Spring Fundraiser!

1.  Flower Seed Fundraiser – Everyone loves spring time and all the flowers. The flower seed fundraising idea is very simple.  Go to your local garden center and find out which seeds are the most popular and do best in the local climate.  Ask for a discount based on your groups status and then sell the flower seed packets a local event or door-to-door.  You are looking for at least doubling you money on each seed packet transaction.  You can also ask if the person would like to donate some extra money to your organization

2.  Spring Clean-up - We all know that the spring time is the time to do spring cleaning and outside chores.  Arrange for members of your group to hire themselves out to your local area to do chores and clean-up for folks in the area.  Your labor and funds are then turned back into your charity or group.

3.  Car Washes - Spring is the time for getting out and doing a little local drive.  No one wants to do that in a dirty car.  The weather is nice and your group could hold an old fashion car wash.  You can charge between $5 and $10 dollars for an average car and even more for larger vans and trucks. Do a great job and make a donation / Tip jar a prominent feature.  A nice Saturday could need your group hundreds of dollars if you have the right location.

Don't forget that Sunset Coupons has a great Spring fundraiser with a no start-up option.  Give us a call at 800-627-6340 to talk about your next fundraiser.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com

Monday, April 2, 2012

Five “Money Is Tight” Fundraising Ideas

1. Hold a services auction – Your organization’s members could offer services that are then auctioned off to raise funds, in this cheap fundraising idea. Services could include car washing, house cleaning, lawn mowing, snow shoveling, or any other tasks your members feel comfortable offering.

2. Sponsor a garage sale – Everyone has unwanted items in their garages, basements or spare bedrooms. Gather these items together and host a huge charity garage sale! The only costs are price stickers and some signage to advertise your sale, making it one of the easiest and cheapest fundraising events.

3. Do face painting – The only materials you’ll need to buy with a face painting booth are paintbrushes and water based face paint. Set up a booth at a school carnival or local festival, where there are lots of children who will want their faces painted.

4. Feature nature walks – If you’re familiar with the local flora and fauna, offer a guided nature walk for a small fee. In this cheap fundraising idea, the only cost involved is your time.

5. Collect Aluminum cans for recycling – No money is needed to undertake this cheap fundraising idea. Simply have members collect cans, and then deliver them to your local recyclers and then turn all the funds into your organization.

You can also give us a call at Sunset Coupons and learn about our “no cost” fundraising program.

Presented By:
Sunset Coupons
Phoenix AZ
800-627-6340
http://sunsetcoupons.com