Raffle prizes

Co-op?

Over the years, we found it more and more difficult to secure raffle prizes from businesses.

Some businesses however, were very generous and were mentioned in the fair programme. Advertising in return for a donation.

Our parishioners are also very generous donating raffle prizez.

Be careful if you ask people to donate gifts, you might get some real out-of-date corkers dug out from the recesses of dusty cupboards!

Individual local shops might be glad to donate something to promote their businesses.

The local garden centre?
Supermarkets? Our local Tesco is good at donating gifts
Voucher from a food shop?

We often got hairderssing or beauty salon vouchers donated.

Or even hairdressing!

Depends which companies you have locally. The supermarkets do have a budget for local causes.

It's a difficult one - I live in what you might call either a large village or a small town. The owner of a very long established beauty salon told me just a couple of weeks ago that she's probably approached at least 2 - 3 times a week for raffle prizes and more often at Christmas and you can be sure it's the same for other shops.

They all have to draw the line somewhere.

Restaurants/cafes can be good if you ask for a voucher as the winners often spend more than the voucher value.

Getting raffle gifts can be a thankless task - you have to be thick skinned. Good luck!

I agree with Allita local businesses are more likely to donate a voucher as it promotes them too. Our recent charity raffle had vouchers from restaurants, the butchers, a beauty salon and and a farm shop to name a few, local business establishments are better than the corporates.

We found we raised more money from a bottle stall. We were often given excellent bottles of whisky from people who passed them on as “unwanted” gifts.
A local lady offered ironing for two hours or oven cleaning as it was what she could afford. Her donations were very much appreciated.

The latter was for a raffle.

You can also make up a hamper by asking people to donate just one item.

Don’t wipe out a charity shop we often get new goods and have given them for raffles before now

Go to every shop and business you possibly can, with the biggest smile and just ask, you’ll be surprised how many people will donate.

John Lewis, Marks & Spenser and Tui have all contributed to raffles I organised in the past. I obviously can guarantee that they would donate now. Various local estate agents have also donated.
The more prizes you have, even if some are very small, the more fun it is. I won a cucumber in a raffle I once organised. Needless to say it was not first prize.

I have asked for raffle prizes .
Friends and neighbours gave me some unwanted gifts .
As they bought raffle tickets I had to remember who gave what !
I asked cafe owners for afternoon tea vouchers .
I asked local florists for plants .
I asked the local bakery for a cake or cakes .
And I asked beauty salons for gift vouchers .
I went when they weren't too busy and with a big smile .
It was hard work .
I found selling tickets harder !

Marydoll

Over the years, we found it more and more difficult to secure raffle prizes from businesses.

Some businesses however, were very generous and were mentioned in the fair programme. Advertising in return for a donation.

Our parishioners are also very generous donating raffle prizez.

Ah, Marydoll, how well I remember the annual collecting prizes for our school and nursery! We knew who would give willingly, and who would refuse!
Local shops often have lots of calls on them for donations, but hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, restaurants, takeaways etc will often be happy to donate, as it may lead to new customers
I would suggest a tombola if you do get lots of prizes. We rolled up raffle tickets and put them into straws, with tickets ending in 0 or 5 winning a prize. Display the prizes with the winning ticket attached, but try not to give the prizes out until the end ( sneaky I know, but fewer will buy if they see only a couple of prizes left!) It does also save the interminable drawing of the raffle if you have lots of prizes.

Try your gym. A month’s free membership is a good advertisement. Ours gave me a month’s family membership. The lady who won it signed her family up for a year afterwards.

Organising a raffle once for a community centre, we went to every single house in our village and asked for a tin of something. We were never refused. Got a lot of peas and tomatoes, but also a lobster and pies, peaches, pears etc.. We mixed them into assorted lots and tied, I think five tins in a group and bound them together with twine. Then at the fair we raffled them. People were delighted.

Supermarkets send vouchers but set a budget for the year

Thanks everyone- I’ve got a busy few weeks ahead of me then! As I’ve said before, I just love this site 👏.