Last week-end was “Shop for A Cause” at Macy’s. Macy’s stores let charities sign up for a table at store entrances where the charities sold for $5.00 a coupon pass good for that day. All the proceeds went to the charity. A win-win situation. Macy’s gets more customers in their stores to use their coupons and the charities profit from the sales with little expense. I signed up the charity I am involved with, the Clara Jean Foundation, a holistic approach to breast cancer, www.clarajean.org, for the day shift.
Since it was our first year we did not know what to expect. We didn’t come prepared. Next year we will be better prepared from what we learned from other charities that have done this promotion.
Here is what we learned:
1. Dogs, especially big dogs will stop a shopper in her tracks
2. A couple of cute teenage well mannered boys roaming the store asking customers if they need help with their packages and selling the coupons on the spot at the registers.
3. 12-13 year old determined young girls stopping and selling to customers
4. Cooking demonstrations with samples
5. Cookies, candy, balloons, dog treats, wrist bracelets, teething cookies, water
6. Bag/Coat check station
7. Resting chairs with portable TVs incase there is a game
8. Chair Massages
9. Raffle to win something, anything
10. Cheer Leaders
We have a year to come up with our plans and we will be better prepared for next year. My thoughts go to pink balloons, cheerleaders, pink cookies, breast cancer wrist bands, chair massage, and maybe even flu shots! I am really impressed with Macy’s commitment to support not only national but local charities too. The coupons were fantastic. Boy did I get some great buys on presents for the Holidays!