Simple Ways to Increase Your Raffle Income
So you’re in charge of this year’s basket of cheer raffle, eh? We know, from experience, that oodles of bottles of adult libations will sell tickets for your non-profit yacht club or other organization, but wouldn’t it be great to get a few ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ and sell more tickets than ever before?
Chances are that you’re going to accept donations of “cheer,” and then have to assemble them yourself. You may not be a professional maker of gift baskets, may not have the tools, or perhaps would like to spend your money on the contents of the basket, rather than the basket itself. Hey, we can’t all be Suzy Homemaker. 😉 Don’t fret! We have some ideas that’ll kick your Basket of Cheer up a notch, and nobody will care that it didn’t have paper shreds or a perfectly tied bow on it.
Here are 8 ways to increase the value of this year’s Basket of Cheer for your non-profit fundraiser:
8. Customized or Themed Flask
Sometimes a flask included in a give-away is questionable because the recipient may not be a drinker of alcohol. It’s a safe bet that your Basket of Cheer ticket buyers either enjoy an adult beverage now and again or they’ll be gifting it to someone who does. We’re creating our basket for a yacht and social club, so we like these nautical designs. If your club is un-yacht themed, then you may prefer one of these flasks — you can choose a general design or something which coordinates with the theme of your event.
7. Wine Glasses, Mugs,
& Shot Glasses
If your organization is like many we know, you get a lot of “we’re never going to drink this bottle of wine” donations for your raffle. Adding wine glasses seems like a logical add-on. The “personalized” part can be your boating club, or you can include non-personalized wine glasses. Beer mugs, shot glasses, and even funny mugs, like this one can be included too — because making people laugh helps you to separate them from their money in the name of a good fundraiser. 😉
6. Mixers & Fresh Fruit
If your donated bottles lean on the liquor side, add mixers. What do you have most of in your basket? Vodka? Include Bloody Mary mix. On the day of your drawing, add celery and lime. Tequila? Add margarita mix, salt, and grab some limes on drawing day. Rum? Add sodas or tropical mixes and these cute cocktail umbrellas.
5. Accessorize Your Basket
Wine charms, a fancy corkscrew, wine tool kits, bar gear, and coasters add value and can often be purchased on sale.
4. One Coveted Bottle
Again, if most of your alcohol is donated, you may not have the most desirable liquors and wines in your basket. Adding a bottle of just one expensive, coveted liquor can pay off in ticket sales. We’re not saying you should splurge for a $2 Million bottle of Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne, but a $40 bottle of Hennessy VS or a $50 bottle of Stoli Elit Vodka will net you much more than that in increased ticket sales.
3. Acrylic Vanity Trays
We love these acrylic vanity trays for bathrooms and bedrooms, but to be perfectly honest, many people use them in their kitchens. They’re great for wine or liquor displays and perfect for kitchens because they clean up easily. Another idea is to purchase more than one acrylic tray, and then split your one large basket into smaller baskets.
You can increase raffle ticket sales by increasing the number of prizes given. Try it!
2. Serving Tray as a Basket
If your Basket of Cheer isn’t huge, serving trays are great for kitchens or bedrooms, and they’re one of our favorite products! The tray can serve as the “basket” to a half dozen or more bottles, it can match a theme for a special event, and it’s something different than everyone else is doing.
1. Large & In Charge!
Since our basket raffle tickets are going to be sold to boaters and lots of “cheer” is being donated, our number 1 idea for the “basket” is a customized 60-quart Igloo™ cooler. The winner doesn’t even have to worry about hurting their back toting it all out of the club — with this cooler, they can roll it out! We like our own nautical chart design because they’re local, and this is an iconic look to boaters everywhere. (Besides, doesn’t everyone just give the actual basket part to a charity?)
Do You Have More Ideas?
If you’ve tried or are brainstorming other ideas to make your charity’s or non-profit’s Basket of Cheer a great event unto itself, please share! We’d love to hear your ideas.
