Sophie Pender’s Post

Quick shout out to the little sellers in my neighborhood from our local Boy Scouts troop. The other day an 8-ish-year-old cold-knocked on my door selling popcorn. First off, I had no idea that was a thing - which is a tough sell for a kid OR an adult when awareness for your product among your target market is low. His pitch was that he was selling popcorn and that the price was $20-25 for the two flavors they had. No marketing collateral, catalog, picture on a smartphone, nothing. Why are they making this kid sell this way??? (Meanwhile, when the Girls Scouts come around, I can purchase cookies through a QR code personalized to that individual seller so she gets the commission.) I also had no idea what I would get for $20 - was this a donation? A giant tin of popcorn, or a giant bag like at the circus? If the goal of this program is to teach young kids entrepreneurism - as it seems to be for the Girls Scouts - then why are we making them do cold calls with little to no preparation? Good luck to you, kid. This will either make you hate sales forever or turn you into a GOAT who tells an inspirational story about how you turned adversity when you were 8 into a popcorn empire.

The Gathering Place's Rising Leaders Council Presents Ohio State Vs. Michigan Square Card Fundraiser Game Rules and Payouts -Each board has 100 squares available for purchase. Total number of boards based on demand.  -Participants are welcome to purchase as many number of squares as desired.  -Cost per square: $20: $10 of each cost per square will benefit the ongoing mission of TGP and $10 will go into the payout pot. Total payout pot per full board: $1,000.  -First Quarter Payout $200.  -Second Quarter Payout $200.  -Third Quarter Payout $200.  -Fourth Quarter Payout $400.  -A participant’s square will not change once selection and payment has been made.  -Numbers 0-9 will be randomly assigned to each team once a board is fully sold.  -Final boards will be emailed to each participant on November 27. Purchase your square(s) here: https://lnkd.in/ebP9gYzF

Well as they say - every day is a school day! Especially this week it would seem. Yesterday was the Hospice Income Generation Network conference, lots to take away with my highlight being a session on the compound effect (by the brilliant Rob Woods, who always delivers really inspiring sessions). How can I do one thing 5% better tomorrow? 🤔 This morning it was module 5 of #HelpToGrow with Huddersfield Business School - Developing a Marketing Strategy - another great morning with the cohort and lots to take away and work on. And tonight, the 'school day' was topped off with a really insightful marketing masterclass on brand marketing from the former president of Adidas North America (and Huddersfield native), Rupert Campbell - a new and fresh perspective for me but I truly believe that even as local charities we can learn a lot from other industries - "If you're staff are not advocates, you'll always struggle. Always." - 👈 true anywhere. What a week - and 2 days still to go! (I didn't take any photos this week so here's what Castle Hill looks like from my house, for no reason) #marketing #management #brand #strategy #huddersfield

When meeting someone for the first time, the best thing you can offer is your advice and help. Genuine connections are built on the willingness to give before asking. By sharing your insights, offering guidance, or connecting someone to a valuable resource, you show that you’re invested in their success. Networking isn’t just about growing your own contacts; it’s about building meaningful relationships that add value to others. The more you help, the more you open doors to unexpected opportunities and foster a community where everyone can thrive. If you need a place to practice your networking skills, join us at the Puttery in NYC for the Tomorrow's Champions Mini Golf fundraising event tomorrow (10/15)! Go here for info and tickets, and if you can't make it, please consider making a donation. https://lnkd.in/eDUSi_jt Every dollar counts towards supporting TC, along with the four organizations we are supporting during this event, Ice Hockey In Harlem, Street Soccer USA, HARLEM JUNIOR TENNIS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM INC and CityLax! Please reach out if you have any questions. I can certainly guarantee you will have a fantastic time, all in the name of helping kids elevate themselves through participating in sports. We all know how valuable it is to get kids started in sports at an early age, and Tomorrow's Champions mission is to give every child in the NYC area the chance to be on a field, court, rink... Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow! #Networking #GivingBack #ProfessionalRelationships #BuildingConnections #PayItForward

There’s a buzz in the air, and for once, it’s not just the pre-holiday rush of wrestling past a group of lollygagging humans at Costco to be the first person at a just opened checkout line. Oh, that’s a feeling like no other isn’t it? We’re talking about good news in giving. Yes, you read that right, ACTUAL good news! While the past few years have felt like pulling teeth when it comes to fundraising—fewer donors giving the same (or less) money, economic uncertainty, and a general sense of malaise—it looks like we might finally be seeing some light. There are a few events and giving days that I track every year as a bellwether for what the end of year might bring. Collectively these nonprofits said, “Oh, its already been broughten.” Take Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day, for example. This year, it smashed records with over $37 million raised for more than 6,000 nonprofits and schools, surpassing the previous year’s total by $3 million. That’s not just a blip—it’s a full-on victory lap. And it wasn’t fueled by a few massive gifts (although those certainly helped); it was thousands of people giving $5, $10, $100—whatever they could. The message? People want to give. Here are 5 ways you and your organization can activate your generous donors NOW! Link to the rest of the Blog in the Comments!

With all the University of Michigan NCAA infractions talk (breakfast cheeseburgers with recruits, in-person scouting, etc.), you may have thought there couldn't be more legal drama, yet here we are. Kevin Brick and his ticket reselling company Maxim Tickets is suing UM for deceptive business practices, fraud, and violating Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in connection with a recent change in their season football tickets policy which the plaintiffs say harmed them to the tune of over $2 million dollars. The complaint suggests that for over 20 years the plaintiffs created 164 accounts, accumulated over 1000 season tickets, and donated millions of dollars to acquire over 15,000 Priority Points, all known and approved by UM. As is common with most schools, UM's priority points system was used to determine seating upgrades each year, and it generally ensured the ability to renew season tickets each year. However, when UM made changes to their season ticket policy which may have included partnering with a ticket reseller, the plaintiff's accounts were shut down and all their season tickets were taken away. The complaint lists several FOIA requests made to UM regarding past solicitations the university made to potential donors and season ticket buyers that were either replied to with minimal information or outright rejected. The crux of the plaintiffs' argument is that they relied up on those past solicitations to donate funds, purchase season tickets, and accumulate priority points, and there was no communication from UM that their accounts could be closed and tickets confiscated without cause or notice. I am looking forward to seeing Michigan's response to this one. #sportslaw #tickets #Michigan #FOIA

🌟 Join Us in Making a Difference! 🌟 The Alex Sebahie Never Back Down Foundation is excited to announce our upcoming fundraiser, and we need your support! We are offering multiple opportunities for you to get involved and make a meaningful impact. How You Can Help: 1. Sponsorships: Become a sponsor for our mission! Choose from monthly, yearly, or fundraiser-specific sponsorship tiers. 2. Advertisements: Showcase your business by placing ads in our event materials. A great way to gain visibility! 3. Donations: Contribute monetary or in-kind donations to help us create beautiful raffle prizes. Where Your Contributions Go: • Scholarships: Fund scholarships throughout the year, in partnership with the New Jersey Wrestling Association and clubs. This includes high school senior scholarships, regional New Jersey State Wrestling scholarships, and many other scholarships. • Acts of Kindness Project: Support local organizations by providing Christmas gifts for foster care, school supplies for children, and gifts for hospice and cancer organizations. We strive to bring a little light and love to those in need. • BCCA Sponsorship: Sponsor the 157 weight class at the county tournament annually, awarding champions with a special singlet and scholarships for one senior boy and one senior girl wrestler at the county tournament. Our Mission: Help us turn tragedy into purpose. We are dedicated to helping student-athletes and the community never back down from life’s challenges. This is the core of our mission, and with your support, we can continue to make a positive impact. Important Dates: • Deadline for Sponsorships, Ads, and Donations: August 25, 2024 By supporting us, your business will be featured on our event banners and in additional social media posts leading up to the event. This is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to our cause and gain exposure within our community. Ready to Get Involved? Email us at info@alexsebahie.org or drop us a note, and we’ll provide you with the necessary forms. If you have any questions or concerns, we’re here to help! For more details and to buy tickets for the event, visit our event page. https://lnkd.in/ejeXnzj8 click link below. Thank you for your support and partnership. Together, we can make a significant impact! #SupportLocal #Fundraiser #Community #NeverBackDownFoundation #SponsorsWanted #DonationsWelcome #MakeADifference #NeverBackDown Alex Sebahie Never Back Down

Happy one year to the traveling blanket show! Some days it feels like we're just getting started, others it's like we've been doing this forever! (Maybe it's just the old timey black and white filter...) Doing events and markets is probably our favorite part of this business, and we've learned a lot this past year. For example: 🙌 We've built great relationships with our donation partners, and shared the incredible work they're doing with thousands of customers (thanks for stopping by our booth and listening!) 🌍 Gone global! Our blankets purchased from markets have ended up in at least three countries - maybe more? 🧀 Expanded our reach to Wisconsin for at least a couple events (so far!) 🤕 Learned to lift with my legs - those tent weights are heavier than they look, ouch 🧶 Aligned with the best wholesale partners, who treat us like family and supply us with a product that is truly a labor of love - one we can be proud to show off every week (and given us a lot of freedom to design our own exclusives!) 📣 Found some truly amazing promoters, who make running these events look easy. Spoiler alert, they're not 🧠 Gained a ton of knowledge from our vendor friends who have a creative spirit and insight that is unmatched. We still don't always know what we're doing, but we sound like it because of you! 👥 Finally, thank you to every customer who has taken time to say hello, share a personal story, make a purchase, and maybe even come back for another... You're literally and figuratively keeping the lights on at blanket HQ! To the next year of setting up, tearing down, and enjoying every minute in between! #thankyou #marketseason #comesayhi #thisisfun #1for1 #1sold1donated

It is Friday and I am SUPER stoked!! This week I have been entertaining sales calls from publishers- non-traditional publisher -as the rat race of old style publishing companies is not worth the trouble!! Searching for an agent, pitching the agent, get accepted and then they start pitching. No way. - the new style of print on demand makes distribution a no brainer. Two of these companies have my attention- they have systems that make ABSOLUTE sense. Many in my network may not know my marketing and sales background, I am used to systems. Ten years of Corporate Sales at FCA- was the local sales rep of the year 9 years n a row- I raised territory revenue 360%. I started as Part Time Shipper Receiver and became Store Manager in under 5 years at Fairweather. Won the prestigious Ed Laverty (CFL Hall of Fame 2024) Award 2005, Legionnaire of the Year RCL 595 2015, Bowling Proprietor of the Year 2016. Oh and also raised over 9 million dollars (gross) for area charities between 1997 and 2019 (Eventsplus). So results I know and seek, especially with this book about HOMELESSNESS. There is a large market in the human services field. This is non-fiction because I lived it. These two companies offer that promotion and marketing to the correct windows and their style which I have just reviewed in detail appears CLEARLY to work. One company has put 400 authors on the International Best Sellers list in 26 different genre categories. That is impressive. I seek to be #401. That is where you come in. Read the info in my Gofundme and how you can help, and then don’t even need to buy the book, you will get a signed first edition. In sales this is the Call to Action. Please support and please share!! Once the book is out a percentage is targeted to be returned to support the services I used to get off the streets. I have a debt of gratitude. This is the Taylor Swift method of caring and giving. #gratitude #publishing #gofundme #homeless #homelessness #AFP #philanthropic #care Erastour TaylorSwift Walmart https://gofund.me/0667d46c

Black Friday isn't just for retailers. It's a PR goldmine for ANY business. Here's how I helped a client stand out last year: 1. Created a "Gratitude Campaign" 2. Offered pro bono services to a local charity 3. Launched a limited-time "PR Makeover" package Result? 3x media mentions and a 40% boost in December sales. The secret? Aligning with the spirit of giving. How are you leveraging Black Friday for your brand story? Share your creative ideas below! 👇 #BlackFridayPR #BrandStorytelling