Fundraising in a recession

Everyone seems to be whining about how hard it is out there, instead of finding things that will work.

Ollie, an old pal and sometime reluctant fundraiser has just sold his Golf Shop business. Worked well for years as he's a bandit and could do a lot of business on the course but with the recession has sold up and moved on.

He's now importing "Borsalina" merchandise*, to sell to up market bag and luggage shops. "He must be bonkers or on class A drugs" I hear you say, moving into luxery goods in a recession???

Well actually top branded goods are still selling. Not perhaps in the volumes of two years ago, but there are still loads of WAGS out there needing their new £500 accessorised bags, boots or whatever. It's the £50 bags that have stopped selling.

Fundraisers have some really interesting opportunities to position their products and activities very carefully. Retailers and consumer product companies knowm that when volumes are down you go for higher margin items. Why would that be any different for charities? Let's get innovating and doing some deals with the companies still making money.

* Rather neat little gismos that keep your expensive bag or laptop off the floor (and away from beer spillages or thieves) and hooked under the table where you're sitting. They, of course, match your branded bag!