Luminaria Bags - Adding Value, Selling Tips and Embracing a 100% Profit Fundraiser.

If you are a Relayer, you know that the Luminaria Ceremony is the most impactful event of the night.  To make the ceremony mean a lot, you need to sell a lot.  And why not?  You can't beat a fundraiser that is 100% profit!  Here are a few methods we have used with a lot of success to sell these special bags.

ADD VALUE

When we went through transformation, a fixed national price was set for Luminaria Bags so that we could have a uniform price at Relays throughout the country.  That price is $10.  Now, your event may not have this in place just yet, but hang tight, because it is coming.  I personally think this is a GREAT thing, you are going to sell bags, might as well have the donation amount match the importance and impact!  But here's the deal- when you are increasing the price by 50%, how do you increase the value of the item by 50%?  It's a simple answer- PERSONALIZATION!  Grab your markers, pencils, crayons, scrapbooks supplies, stickers and glue!  If you are crafty, get to decorating!  Not everyone is creative, or has time to decorate a bag, so be sure you let people know you will be happy to personalize a luminaria for them to include pictures, phrases, or to reflect that persons personality!  Here are a few we have made.

Not into coloring?  Check out these cute bags by Erin Funk.  They looked SO adorable on the track hanging together (Erin is going to be our Luminaria Chair next year and I am sooooo excited!)

Now, not everyone is crafty and that is TOTALLY ok!  You can still personalize bags!  Did you know you can run them through your printer?  It may take a few test runs, but it DOES work!  Each printer is a little different, but the ones it seems to be easiest with are the ones that have an adjustable tray.  Here are a few done that way! 

Looking for the PERFECT bag for someone who is going through treatment?  Turn a Luminaria into a encouragement card!  We made this one for Jace Hillard, who was coming to Relay for the very first time. You could charge each person $1 to sign it, or have one person sponsor the bag and pass it around.  It was a huge hit.

Selling Tips

Every now and then someone says something that just sets off a light bulb in your head- my buddy Jeff Liscum did that for me this year when he posted a video on Facebook to promote luminaria bags.  Instead of asking people to BUY them, he asked people to SPONSOR them.  Genius.  Doesn't that sound better?  It ADDS VALUE.  You are asking someone to honor or remember someone by sponsoring a bag, instead of asking them to buy yet another thing from you.  Check out his video- it is a GREAT example of how to get the message out there.  Facebook is a great way to ask people to sponsor your bags, and videos are often viewed more than a text post! 

 

Another lightbulb moment came this year when I watched a live streaming video of Joe Gillette (AKA- Relay Daddy) at Brooklyn Sings!  Now, when I checked this afternoon Joe's current PERSONAL fundraising total was at $36,131 so needless to say, this guy knows what he is doing!  During Brooklyn Sings Joe did something called a glowstick ceremony, and let me tell you, if you are looking for a way to show a group of people WHY they should join u in the fight against cancer, this is the way to do it.  You just need to be somewhere that you can lower lights.  This is my version of what he did- feel free to use this and change it up as needed.

 (Photo Courtesy of Joe Gillette)

Ladies and gentleman may I have your attention please? 

We come together today to renew our fight against cancer through American Cancer Society and to celebrate our efforts thus far.  Our team is passing out glow sticks to you, please do not light them yet.

Thanks to your support and efforts, we are able to give cancer patients right here the support they need and deserve.  We give them rides to treatment, counseling, a home away from home, wigs, and most importantly HOPE for the future.  Our researchers are making progress by leaps and bounds thanks to technology that can study cancer at a molecular level.  US death rates are down 20% since 1991, which means there have been 1.3 million lives saved.  But, we aren’t done yet- cancer is still touching us all, and we need your help now more than ever.

One aspect of this celebration is to honor those touched by cancer who were, and are an important part of our lives. 

Cancer has no preference.  It takes young, old, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, best friends, old friends, and dear friends.

(DIM THE LIGHTS)

-If you are a cancer survivor, please light your glowstick and hold it up now so we can honor you.

-If you have been a caregiver to someone who has had cancer, please light your glowstick now and hold it up, so we can thank you.

-If you have lost a family member to cancer, please light your glowstick now and hold it up.

-If you have lost a friend to cancer, please light your glowstick now.

-If you have ever known someone with cancer, please light your glowstick now.

-And finally, if you are one of the lucky ones who has not been affected by cancer, but you want to stand up with us to fight back against this horrible disease, please light your glowstick and hold it up now.

Take a look around ladies and gentlemen.  This is why we are all here tonight.  Every light you see shining has a person behind it.  Maybe it’s you, your family, your friends- we are all in this fight together.

Now I want to ask you to think about the person you had in mind while you lit your glowstick.  At the front check in table we have luminaria bags- on the night of Relay For Life, we will light these bags, and have a special ceremony where we honor or remember those people.  The suggested sponsorship amount for these bags is just $10, and we would love to make sure your loved one is celebrated that night.

On behalf of the Mighty Misfits Relay For Life Team, thank you so much for joining us tonight in our fight.  We are so grateful for such a supportive community, friends, and family for helping us end cancer once and for all.

For more info on Brookyln Sings, be sure to check them out on their  Facebook page.
Speaking of Facebook, challenge yourself to find someone to sponsor a bag from each state using Facebook!  Tell your friends and family what you are trying to do, you will be surprised how many will be willing to help you out!  Now, this does not mean post it once and give up, make follow up posts saying what states you have, or message friends from different states telling them what you are trying to do!

Next up, set up a table with decorating supplies around town.  Already going to soccer practice, have a booth at a craft show, having a survivor dinner?  Bring your luminaria bags with you!  Be sure you bring a sign that clearly explains what they are, as well as some samples. 

Are you reading this trying to find a way to motivate your team or fellow volunteers to sell more luminaria bags?  Don't worry, I didn't forget my fellow leaders!  Host a contest!  The prize doesn't have to be expensive, let the winner pie the chair or staff partner, give a way Relay swag, or a prime parking spot!  You will want to post this challenge on Facebook, Twitter, IG, via Event Manager Email, and at meetings!

 I hope your mind is full of new ideas!  Be sure to stay tuned, next week I will talk about different options for displaying luminarias bags at your event!

Do you have an awesome luminaria program in place?  Share below so we can learn from you!

As always with HOPE-
Cassi