ChemArt Blog

(for those who don’t know, that’s the Council for Advancement and Support of Education/National Association of Independent Schools)?  Whew, that was a mouthful….

First of all the show couldn’t have been in a better place, NYC!  We were in the heart of the theater district at the Marriot Marquis NYC.  By day I was talking to development/advancement directors and by night I was trying to get a role in a Broadway play.  Who knew that you had to prepare for such a thing?!

Although I didn’t make it on stage to act out my lifelong dream of staring in a Broadway musical, I did get to see one.  I saw HAIR at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre and it was almost as amazing as the free continental breakfast at the CASE NAIS Conference!  Just think endless tables of coffee, juice, danish, breads and last but not least, miniature bagels.  YUM! 

Our product definitely stood out amongst the sea of database management companies, marketing firms, etc.   All the people that I paid to stop by our booth did and to my surprise they brought some friends.   In the famous words of Murdock from the A-Team, “I love it when a good plan comes together”.    

Here’s the problem I heard at the Conference from Independent Schools:  They are going through some of the same challenges that many organizations are facing like budget cuts, decreased private/corporate donations and limited resources.   With all that going on, developing a unique way to increase donor retention, bring on new donors and raise funds is more important than ever. 

The solution:  An annual collectible program!  It’s a unique way to get donors, employees and the general public invested to the point where they can’t live without the next collectible in the series.  Trust me, we’ve seen it happen but if you want to read about it check out the Timber Ridge School  case study on our website, www.chemart.com.  Their ornaments have reached the point where they are selling on E-Bay for millions…ok not millions but definitely in the hundreds…   

The long and short of my trip to NYC is that I am NOT going to star on Broadway, however I was able to reach out to many Independent Schools and offer a solution to some of the challenges they are facing this year! 

Enough about what I got out of my trip.  I am calling out to all Independent Schools who attended…  Besides the breakfast, which I already mentioned above, what was your highlight and what did you learn from the fabulous sessions this year?

We are always looking for ways to understand what you want or need that would help make your program easier, faster, better and more successful, but honestly NO ONE knows that better than you!  Well maybe the Dalai Lama but he’s got a pretty hectic schedule these days…

Here’s your chance to tell us how it is, to enlighten us with your brilliant ideas and extensive knowledge (ok maybe that’s a little much, but you know it’s true)! 

We would love to hear your stories, the good, the bad, the successes the flops…  We all learn a great deal from one another and sharing your stories can help someone in your shoes to avoid a train wreck and increase their chance for a successful annual collectible program! 

So with that said, SPILL IT!!!!!  Spill all those top secret ideas, your wish list about what we could provide you with to increase your success, etc. 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!

Well, you start with a plan because in the famous words of Ben Franklin “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

That is so true in your professional or personal life.  I’ll use myself as an example.  If one of my goals is to lose weight then it requires a great plan or a more drastic approach, like putting tape over my mouth to stop myself from having a bite of that chocolate cake.   Without a diet and exercise plan I would never reach my goal, unless of course they finally invent the all you can eat diet pill.  Still waiting for that one….

Your collectible program requires a certain level of planning to be successful!  Here are some steps that might help. 

1. Define Your Goals:  Figure out what you would like to accomplish, besides winning the lottery and leaving this for someone else to figure out.   Do you want to raise funds through your membership, increase your donor base or donor giving levels, increase revenue in your gift shop, etc?  
2. Establish a Plan:  Now that you know what you want, how are you going to get there?  This is where the planning comes in.  Look around you and you’ll find some very valuable resources, such as your fellow committee members, your staff and in us (ok I mean ME)!   We all know people who have had experience in marketing, promotions, etc.  Use your resources to lead you into a solid strategy.
3. Track Your Results:  If you don’t know that it’s not working how can you fix it?  Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.  I say the definition of insanity is someone who is out of their mind, but for the point I am trying to make let’s go with Albert!  If you develop a plan and it’s not yielding good results, think fast and switch gears.  Try a different marketing idea, advertise in a different form and be creative!
4. Revel in the Success of an increase in funds, donations, etc…

Your collectible is just a vehicle to help you reach your goals.  Visit our website at www.chemart.com to review some great marketing tips and customer success stories because stealing their ideas is totally ok, especially if it works! 

What do you think ChemArt could offer to help you get your program off to a great start? 

(for those who don’t know, that’s the Association of Zoos and Aquariums)? 

We’ll I thought it was pretty cool to have a booth right across from a Dinosaur!!!  Not to mention every time the man got out of the costume, he emerged from the belly of the beast which was a site to see.  Lee Rush (our marketing guru) and I attended the conference for the first time, which was held in beautiful Portland, OR. 

We weren’t the typical vendor selling product on the spot, but we had a great response!  It always amazes me when people pass out near our booth from pure excitement!  Ok, that didn’t happen but it could have! 

The first impression was, “wow this is a great product for our gift shop…” but when we talked about offering a solution for donor retention, bringing on new donors, incenting members and raising funds the IDEA flood gates opened!   Everyone was so receptive about creating an ANNUAL program, where you wouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel, but just come up with the next concept in the series. 

We do create a product but it is only the vehicle to get your donors and members coming back and giving more.  An annual collectible is a great way to engage your supporters and get them looking forward to the next in the series but don’t take my word for it, see what other organizations are saying…

I am curious about what you think, so I am calling out to all of the zoos and aquariums out there.  WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA? 

WHY MORE GENERIC DESIGNS = GREATER SALES AND INCREASED DONATIONS? 

I know what you’re thinking…the ChemArt logo is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen!  I know, I feel the same way.  It’s absolutely breathtaking! 

Now, even though I feel that way my customers probably don’t and why should they.  A logo is serves a purpose and is part of our corporate identity!  It doesn’t really evoke strong emotion or sentiment with our clients.  So, where do we go from here?    Well, we think outside of the corporate box and come up with an interesting way to engage our employees, while sending a message to our clients that we can stand behind. 

Our annual thank you gift is centered on the message of Peace and Unity.  Not to be confused with the message given by most beauty queens in the Miss USA Pageant…”All I want is World Peace”.  We want that too, but we threw “unity “in there as well, just to mix things up.

We start by having a contest amongst our employees.  Once the designs are completed we all vote on our favorite.  Of course when I say favorite, I mean I vote for myself.  Come on, let’s be honest!!!  Anyway…the design is then created and we develop a nice thank you message that goes out with each piece.  Our logo is on the back of the piece and on the box, but it is not the main focal point of the ornament.  Why, because we feel that a more generic piece, centered on a great message is more important to our CLIENTS than our logo and ultimately will have a greater impact.   

Branding is very important but it isn’t the most important when it comes to fundraising or donor gifts and incentives.  Creating a piece that is more generic and centers around your mission rather than your corporate identity can help bring your program to the next level. 

What message do you want to convey and what do you want your donors, volunteers and supporters to walk away with?