Well, we made it through 5 different Events in January--- one every weekend, and another that ran two successive Fridays. Some were definitely better than others; as always, the dollars driven by each Event are to a great extent dependent upon the publicity, advertising, and networking the beneficiary group does in the weeks leading up to the Event.
A good example of that was the Event for the Hoover High Marching Band. Michael, who spearheaded the drive for that group, managed to get contributions from the local YMCA and a media company. We sent a truck to pick up at those two locations separately from the Event, and they ended up adding roughly another 33% to the final tally! That kind of creative networking can really pay off, so if you're with a group thinking about doing an e-waste fundraiser, think beyond your own mailing list and circle of friends. Think about social networking (Facebook, local websites, Craigslist); local businesses; people who know people in IT Departments; people who know Facilities Managers at big companies; computer repair shops; etc.
We took February off, and it's a good thing because with the nasty winter we've had we would have been rained out several times. Now, looking ahead, we've got two Events in March (on the same day!); and we're booked April 23rd (two that day also, for Earth Day), and 30th. We've also got May 7, May 14th and May 21st in the books. So, looks like a busy spring! If you're thinking about booking an Event sometime soon, be sure to get in touch with us right away so you don't miss out!
This year I'm starting the process of turning this little enterprise over to my youngest daughter, Mackenzie, and her friend Bo. I'm hoping that future postings on this blog can come from them, and I transition them from being extra hands at the Events to actually running the whole operation.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Huge Turnout for "Resqcats" Event Jan. 8th
Wow, what a great day we had at the Santa Barbara Whole Foods Market location this past Saturday!
Jeffyne, the unstoppable bundle of energy who is the founder of Resqcats, did an awesome job of advertising the Event via emails to her mailing list, along with a few other lists provided by some of her volunteers. She also ran a triple listing in Craigslist, and EWF designed and financed an ad in the Santa Barbara Independent, along with about 500 color fliers (designed by one of Jeffyne's many amazing volunteers) which Whole Foods marketing dynamo Rae Vanseenus was kind enough to place at the checkstands two weeks prior to the Event.
The result? Non-stop action! We filled the truck by noon, and had to send our driver Mike back to Newbury Park to unload and come back! He returned right at 3PM, and we filled the truck again!
Most remarkable drop-off of the day: one of Jeffyne's friends evidently cruised neighborhoods in his truck for a few weeks during trash days, picking up TVs which people had put out with their trash. He showed up with 25 TV's!
We had a good proportional mix of the higher return monitors/TVs and PCs/laptops at this Event, and not so much "miscellaneous electronics" like printers, cd players, etc., which pay next to nothing. That mix can make a tremendous difference in the final take for the group. Once we have the weights and payouts totalled, I'll post them.
Jeffyne, the unstoppable bundle of energy who is the founder of Resqcats, did an awesome job of advertising the Event via emails to her mailing list, along with a few other lists provided by some of her volunteers. She also ran a triple listing in Craigslist, and EWF designed and financed an ad in the Santa Barbara Independent, along with about 500 color fliers (designed by one of Jeffyne's many amazing volunteers) which Whole Foods marketing dynamo Rae Vanseenus was kind enough to place at the checkstands two weeks prior to the Event.
The result? Non-stop action! We filled the truck by noon, and had to send our driver Mike back to Newbury Park to unload and come back! He returned right at 3PM, and we filled the truck again!
Most remarkable drop-off of the day: one of Jeffyne's friends evidently cruised neighborhoods in his truck for a few weeks during trash days, picking up TVs which people had put out with their trash. He showed up with 25 TV's!
We had a good proportional mix of the higher return monitors/TVs and PCs/laptops at this Event, and not so much "miscellaneous electronics" like printers, cd players, etc., which pay next to nothing. That mix can make a tremendous difference in the final take for the group. Once we have the weights and payouts totalled, I'll post them.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Last One for the Year in the Books
We completed our year with a small Event benefitting the Santa Clarita Elks Lodge. It wasn't a huge moneymaker--- the lodge's share was less than $200--- but that's the way it sometimes goes. Evidently another entity had recently done a similar event, plus as you get towards Thanksgiving I think people just get too busy to think about dropping off used e-waste...
But, as Tom from the Elks Lodge said, "Anything's better than nothing, and it was a positive thing for the Lodge to do for the community."
Looking forward, we don't schedule any Events in December, but January is absolutely packed. Our first one is January 8th at the Whole Foods in Santa Barbara, and every weekend--- plus a few weekdays--- are booked after that for the month! January's a good month for an e-waste Event, for obvious reasons; people are clearing out their old computers, TV's and so on to make way for the new stuff they got for Christmas.
Stores like Best Buy and Fry's are reporting excellent sales so far this year, so that bodes well for our January Events!
Happy holidays, everyone!
Kerry
But, as Tom from the Elks Lodge said, "Anything's better than nothing, and it was a positive thing for the Lodge to do for the community."
Looking forward, we don't schedule any Events in December, but January is absolutely packed. Our first one is January 8th at the Whole Foods in Santa Barbara, and every weekend--- plus a few weekdays--- are booked after that for the month! January's a good month for an e-waste Event, for obvious reasons; people are clearing out their old computers, TV's and so on to make way for the new stuff they got for Christmas.
Stores like Best Buy and Fry's are reporting excellent sales so far this year, so that bodes well for our January Events!
Happy holidays, everyone!
Kerry
Monday, November 1, 2010
October in the Books with Three Events Completed
The last three Saturdays were busy, with Events Oct. 18th, 23rd, and 30th of this month. They were for "The Link Crew" at Thousand Oaks High; the PTSA of Oxnard High School; and Olivet Lutheran Church in Hawthorne.
The most successful of the bunch was the one put on by the volunteers from Oxnard High School, and the primary reason for that was they arranged for a business to donate a large amount of e-waste prior to the Event. In fact, that donation actually generated as much as the Event itself! An important lesson there; if you're considering an E-Waste Event, don't just focus on the day of the Event. Do lots of networking amongst your group beforehand (we recommend at least 6 weeks lead time). It can really be the difference between moderate results and a truly successful campaign--- see the post below for further illustration.
The most successful of the bunch was the one put on by the volunteers from Oxnard High School, and the primary reason for that was they arranged for a business to donate a large amount of e-waste prior to the Event. In fact, that donation actually generated as much as the Event itself! An important lesson there; if you're considering an E-Waste Event, don't just focus on the day of the Event. Do lots of networking amongst your group beforehand (we recommend at least 6 weeks lead time). It can really be the difference between moderate results and a truly successful campaign--- see the post below for further illustration.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Great Teamwork and Pre-Work Leads to a Great Event for Ascension Lutheran
Another successful Event!
Debbie and her team at Ascension Lutheran did an outstanding job PRIOR to the Event, by working weeks ahead of time to collect loads of donated goods and storing them in an all-purpose room.
The result: before the first car showed up for a drop-off, we had already filled 3 pallets full of TV's/monitors, and piled close to a full pallet of pc's! Throughout the day they had drop-offs of a bunch of large screen TV's, and I personally did a pick-up of one of the heaviest dang servers I've ever hefted! (Truth is, I had to come back with some help to lift it into the truck).
Anyway, we had beautiful, unseasonably cool weather--- nice after a ridiculous heat wave that just ended--- a terrific bunch of volunteers (see photo of a few of them), and a very impressive turnout in terms of drive-up e-waste donors. The truck was filled to capacity; in fact, I had to fill my 1-ton with big-screens and other stuff from a few late arrivals!
Great job, all of you at Ascension Lutheran! You definitely showed the kind of results you can get from some solid organization and spirited teamwork, and we look forward to doing this with you again in the near future.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
LSU Wildlife Hospital Event a Huge Success
Well, I couldn't be much more tired than I am right now. We arrived this morning at 8:15, and before I could finish setting up the pallets and Gaylords (the big cardboard boxes that sit on the pallets) the line of cars started, and didn't really slow down until 2:30 PM. Which is great, but with temperatures in the high 90's (and extremely high humidity) it was a draining day to say the least. However--- and most important--- we did great!
As soon as I got a free minute, I snapped a picture of our progress. Here's what we had going within the first hour or so:
Later in the day, I snapped a couple quick shots of Martha buried in the rubble. We ran out of pallets and Gaylords within two hours, and had to start piling stuff in a semi-organized fashion in front of the pallets.
When all was said and done, we over-filled a container truck, and although the Event was scheduled to end at 3P, we didn't finish up until just after 5.
Many thanks to all the nice folks who came by (and waited patiently in line) with their e-waste. A huge thank-you also to Ashley and Kimberly of Whole Foods Market, whose enthusiastic support and energetic in-store promotion efforts were key to the great turnout. I'd also like to give a quick shout-out to Kerrie over at the Acorn Newspaper. She's great to work with, helped us out by getting my press release into the right hands to accompany the ad, and got us terrific placement in the paper. A substantial percentage of the drop-offs today said they learned about the Event from the Acorn.
And most of all, thanks to my business partner Martha Penhall, who worked every second out there in the sun with me today, and spent many hours and knocked on many doors promoting the Event.
Our next Event is scheduled for August 28. More on that one later.
As soon as I got a free minute, I snapped a picture of our progress. Here's what we had going within the first hour or so:
Later in the day, I snapped a couple quick shots of Martha buried in the rubble. We ran out of pallets and Gaylords within two hours, and had to start piling stuff in a semi-organized fashion in front of the pallets.
When all was said and done, we over-filled a container truck, and although the Event was scheduled to end at 3P, we didn't finish up until just after 5.
Many thanks to all the nice folks who came by (and waited patiently in line) with their e-waste. A huge thank-you also to Ashley and Kimberly of Whole Foods Market, whose enthusiastic support and energetic in-store promotion efforts were key to the great turnout. I'd also like to give a quick shout-out to Kerrie over at the Acorn Newspaper. She's great to work with, helped us out by getting my press release into the right hands to accompany the ad, and got us terrific placement in the paper. A substantial percentage of the drop-offs today said they learned about the Event from the Acorn.
And most of all, thanks to my business partner Martha Penhall, who worked every second out there in the sun with me today, and spent many hours and knocked on many doors promoting the Event.
Our next Event is scheduled for August 28. More on that one later.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Whole Foods Market Teams with E-Waste Fundraising!
We are really excited to announce that Whole Foods Market of Thousand Oaks has agreed to "co-produce" a series of e-waste Events with us. Whole Foods is a standard-bearer for the Green Movement, not only in the arena of providing healthy, wholesome food choices; they are also avid proponents of a lifestyle which supports the ideals of environmental responsibility (reducing, reusing, recycling).
This is a very big deal for us, as the combination of their excellent location and ability to advertise and promote each Event can only result in enhanced participation and donations. Our first Event together is scheduled for July 17th, with the charity's share of the proceeds going to benefit animal rescue efforts at the Gulf Oil Spill.
This is a very big deal for us, as the combination of their excellent location and ability to advertise and promote each Event can only result in enhanced participation and donations. Our first Event together is scheduled for July 17th, with the charity's share of the proceeds going to benefit animal rescue efforts at the Gulf Oil Spill.
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