Shipping is a mess across all industries right now, and expectations are that it is going to get less reliable as we move into late fall and the winter holidays.
As much as possible, everyone needs to allow extra shipping time and manage expectations with the groups accordingly.
How can you go from an attitude of “have to” and instead having an attitude of “get to”? It’s all in the mindset and how you approach things - this includes the world of fundraising.
Attitude is the first step in a “get to” approach vs. the “have to” approach. How you approach daily tasks can also define difference makers. For example: if you see this as a “have to” and approach it as something to check off the list or an assignment to complete then you aren’t making a difference. But if you see it as something that you can do and make a difference while doing it then that separates the hunters from the hunted. Be the one who impacts or effects change when needed. Have an infectious attitude and for the right reasons.
Here are a few suggestions on how to be a difference maker in the world of fundraising with that cheerful attitude in doing so:
1.Ask the right questions. Don’t be afraid to ask or simply be satisfied with this is the way we’ve always done it so let’s not rock the boat or make a change. Be respectful and listen, too. Help achieve the goal together.
2.How does it work? Look at things from all vantage points. Not just from your perspective as a rep, but maybe from your chairperson or coach’s viewpoint. Maybe from the company’s viewpoint. Try to “walk” in someone else’s shoes and gain some insight from that vantage point. Don’t assume you know.
3.Gain perspective/gather information Don’t just talk to others in your “camp” - remember they are all singing the same song. Look outside your own backyard and find others who might have similar challenges and learn from them. How did they handle things? What did they do that you can learn from or adopt to do yourself? Positive people can positively influence others. Negative ones have the alternate effect as well. Be an obtainer and not a complainer.
4.Can it be improved? Good enough is never good enough. Always look for improvements, new strategies, or processes that will help not only you and your customers but the entire team as a whole. Do your research. Do your homework. Look for solutions.
5.Be part of the solution. Don’t just sit back and point fingers. “This could be so much better if....” Be a part of the solution. If you are appointed to identify the problem then you are appointed to help find the answer or the solution. Seek out possibilities. Be respectful of the situation in case there are limitations or budgetary constraints. You are encouraged to proactively try to be a part of the answer and not the problem. 6.Own it. Difference makers don’t pass the buck or say “it’s not my job”. Be a part of the team, give credit where credit is due, and remember it’s not only about you and your circumstances. If you make an error, own it. Don’t hide it or shy away from it. Learn from it and move on.
7.Don’t shoot the messenger. Sometimes bad news is okay. The person delivering that information may have absolutely nothing to do with a delayed shipment. Berating that person for the news they are delivering isn’t helping the situation. You are probably making it worse. Remember that in the heat of the moment and be kind to the messenger. They aren’t thrilled to deliver the bad news either.
8.Learn from it. If a situation goes awry, take that opportunity to learn from it. What can I learn from this situation? What can I do differently next time? Were there any red flags that I should’ve been alerted to early on? Take a difficult situation and build on it. Make lemonade out of lemons.
Continue To Be A Difference Maker
Generally speaking, difference makers are thankful people with good positive attitudes. Below are a few points along those lines to remember as you go out into the field each day. Take these to heart and remember what your role is and why it is so very important in the lives of your groups and those students all across the country.
T - Try hard. Make a valiant effort and put your best foot forward every single day.
H - Heartfelt. Be gracious and with a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving.
A - Answer. the call. Be available and get back to customers or co-workers in a timely manner.
N - Needs. Try to help fulfill the needs of your customers and groups as a difference maker.
K - beKnowledgeable. Know the products & listen to your customers. You have the answers.
F - Finish. Complete every piece of your part. Dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Don’t be lazy.
U - Understand. A difference maker isn’t a know-it-all, but rather a learn-it-all.
L - Love. Take hold & love the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others each day.
Be unforgettable. You ARE a difference maker!!
Closeouts and Invoices
Some groups ran early in August and now it is time to work on the closeout and generate the invoice. Here is the step-by-step procedure on how to close out a group and send the invoice while updating the office at the same time. This is the process to close out a traditional book sale.
One:Gather sales details from the sponsor regarding the results. Here is the info needed:
# of books sold cash and checks
# of prize books
# of lost/damaged books
# of leftover books (if any)
# of any out of town books and which market they are for (list the city)
Two:The Chairperson Portal shows all books total sold via credit card:
# of books shipped directly to the customer (total)
# of books in hand/fulfilled at the end of the sale
Three:Enter all of the information from Step One into the closeout form using the chairperson portal. Please note if you skip this step, it will delay Steps Seven and Eight. (If you are not familiar with the chairperson portal or using Enterprise, contact sales@savearound.com to schedule a time to go over this and be trained).
Four:Generate invoice and send to the sponsor and cc: the rep. This invoice will include the amount due minus any credits for credit card payments that SaveAround processed successfully.
Five:If there are leftover books, generate shipping labels and email to the sponsor.
Six:Send an email to grouprelations@savearound.com. This update is to let them know that the invoice has been generated and the closeout form has been completed. The team will then match up the system with the closeout #’s. Now the team will await payment and returned books (if applicable).
Seven:Once the payment has been received and posted to the account, the rep’s commission will be added to the next report. If the group pays on Thursday September 16th, then the rep will be paid their commission the following Friday, September 24th.
Eight:Returned books are a part of the closeout process, so until payment is made AND books are received, the group will not be “closed out” completely. If you have any questions about this process or completing a closeout or invoice, send an email to grouprelations@savearound.com and they will be happy to help walk you through.
1.Distinct fall scents that you can only smell in certain months.
2.New set of seasonal fruits and veggies to eat - including apples, pears, squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, turnips, and more.
3.There are 7,500 varieties of apples in the world.
4.Fall is Soup Season.
5.Leaf Peeping - fall foliage generates lots of tourist income.
6.Monarch butterfly migration begins in the fall.
7.Falling back for daylight saving time leads to fewer heart attacks.
8.Squirrels forget the majority of the nuts they bury which helps regrow the forests. They don’t reclaim 74% of the nuts they store for winter.
9.Apple cider is the official state beverage of New Hampshire.
10.The U.S. produces 4.27 million gallons of maple syrup each year.
11.Americans spend $9 billion annually on Halloween candy.
12.North America hosts the 2nd largest Oktoberfest held in Kitchener, Ontario. They boast 700,000 visitors and sell 50,000 sausages and 25,000 pretzels annually.
13.The word “fall” literally is derived from the phrase “the fall of the leaves”.
14.Many more shopping holidays - Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
15.Tailgating should be a sport.16.Pumpkin. Spice. Everything.
IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, OR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEWSLETTER?
Do you have an idea or topic that you would like to see covered in the Community Conversation newsletter? If so, please send it to sales@savearound.com and we’ll get right on it. Remember if it is something that you would like to know more about or learn about then chances are someone else needs to know it, too.
