How To Select Raffle Prizes

Did you ever wonder where the huge old Sears Catalog went? Once people could travel to stores, the need to shop at home went away. Now the spirit of the old catalogs has returned -- thanks to the internet. Imagine a catalog built just for you and the people who support your cause by buying raffle tickets!
Let us say your ticket buyers are interested in sporting goods, or electronics, or travel, or home appliances, or educational toys -- you name the category, your winners can now pick their own prizes.
Here is how it works: your winners can choose their own prizes according to price range by either going to a website, or you can furnish a printout they can use to make their selections.

'Our People Want Their Prizes Now!'
Not a problem. If you have set up your raffle prizes by price ranges (and you must decide soon what you can give away based on what you can sell) then you can issue either Bank Checks or Gift Cards from the major credit card companies such as American Express.

'Suppose The Prize Money is Not Enough to Pay for the Prize?'
This is where Winner Selected Prizes really come in handy -- let us say your winner has won $500. They browse through the catalogs and find a great TV for $699.00. They apply their $500 to the purchase and they only have to come up with $200. Isn't that better than giving away a cheaper model, and then facing the hassle of returning the prize?

The Problem No One Wants To Face...
If you buy your prizes in advance, what happens when you arrive at the club or lodge one morning to find the prizes gone? Everyone says 'it could not happen to us', but it happens every day -- in rural areas and big cities alike! Our advice? Keep your money in the bank until it is time to award the prizes.

'Sounds Expensive...'
Not really -- these are self-help suggestions so there is no cost to you. The merchants listed below are only a few suggestions out of hundreds of retailers who will cooperate with you. In fact, some retailers may donate or discount products for your raffle. And don't forget that you can print an ad on the back of your raffle tickets for a retailer who wants to offer Discount Coupons for your buyers -- then everyone is a winner!

Some Sources...

http://www.bestbuy.com/
A cornucopia of goodies from TVs to stereos, computers, applicances, cameras. A good reference to current models of most everything electronic.

http://target.com

The ultimate home and appliance store, with some designer accessories made just for Target. You can also add to the list potterybarn and williamsonoma for high-end markets, and WalMart for economy brands.

http://www.abtelectronics.com/

Perhaps more focused on TV than BestBuy, and with an enormous range of appliances -- small and large.


http://www.cabelas.com/

Really the ultimate sporting good store -- if you were to choose a prize from the cabelas site, where would you begin? Also sportsmen probably already have anything you could think of -- it is a good idea to let them choose their own from this site.