Shop and Virtual Gifts
Create exchange fundraising options with an online store.
What's possible with a shop?
The shop module gives you the option to sell directly to your supporters through your platform. This can be done through a central store or embedded within your registration flows. You can sell everything from physical merchandise to virtual gifts.
What are the benefits of a shop?
Make fundraising accessible
With an online shop, your community can support you by purchasing gifts and merchandise, regardless of their location.
Give something
back
Offer value exchanges to your supporters with branded merchandise. This will help them feel part of your community and build a lasting connection with your cause.
Increase fundraising opportunities
A shop that is independent of your events allows you to offer all year round fundraising options and additional value exchange donation opportunities.
What are the key features of a shop?
Categorisation
Create different sub-pages for specific products or collections, to help supporters find the products relevant to them.
Product placement
Sell your products directly within registration journeys. These product offerings can be targeted at segmented groups or universally tied to specific behavioural triggers.
Delivery options
Deliver your products using offline and online methods. You can add shipping options for physical products or set up customised emails for digital purchases.
Stock management
Include sizing and colour options for your products. You can also set individual stock levels for limited edition items or flash sales.
Product diversity
Increase the range of products in your catalogue to appeal to a wider audience. You can even offer personalisation and virtual gifting options.
Promo codes
Create unique promo codes for specific events or to give valued supporters a discount for their patronage, including sales or rewards.
See it in action
The way you build your shop and what you need for your cause will be unique to you. However there are often a few common elements that all shops possess. Here’s a few sites we love to get you thinking about how to create your own. We’ve included what you can apply to your own site and the key features they use.
Vinnies | Virtual Gifts
Scottish SPCA | Virtual Gifts
SCHF | Merchandise
Pink Hope | Merchandise
How to design your shop
Focus on your audience
Design your shop and develop your product range based on your audience’s needs and interests.
Ideas you could try:
- Identify your most engaged audiences and create personas based on their key interests. Understanding their interests and behavioural triggers will help you make smarter strategic decisions. For example, if fitness events perform strongly for your cause, consider branded water bottles, laces or race vests.
Create themed products
Choose a campaign thread or branding to give your merchandise a consistent and recognisable identity.
Ideas you could try:
- Focus on what you want to be famous for and curate products around those sentiments. Knowing what makes your cause unique (& believing in it) will make it easier to naturally cascade products across your range.
Consider national holidays
Offer products that are related to relevant national holidays or cultural events. Look for opportunities to offer donations in-lieu with giving traditions e.g. cards; chocolates.
Ideas you could try:
- Choose holidays where your cause is most needed, culturally relevant or when your audience is most likely to give. Religious holidays for example are great opportunities to sell products such as ecards. Think outside the box and be creative.
Integrate with your campaigns
Consider which products are relevant to event participants and build them into your supporter journey communications.
Ideas you could try:
- Offer event exclusive products. Consider whether you could add discounts, gamification triggers or free rewards for fundraising and participation.
Choose high quality imagery
Take photos that make your products look as good as possible. Consider how they look alongside each other and make the most of white space.
Ideas you could try:
- Always use the highest quality photos and ensure continuity across every image. Including content of your supporters using your products can help provide social proof.
Write copy that sells
Give your products clear yet appealing descriptions to give your supporters the confidence to make an informed purchase.Â
Ideas you could try:
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Write an elevator pitch to explain why a supporter would buy your product. In as few words as possible say what the product is, the benefit of them buying it and the impact their purchase will have on your cause.
Dates for your diary
Here's a few dates to keep in mind and how you could get involved.
New Year's Day
1 January
Water bottles
Laces
Australia Day
26 January
Sports day pack
Valentines
14 February
Chocolates
Valentines cards
Easter
March-April
Easter activity packs
Easter cards
Mother's Day
March & May
Flower seeds
Mother's day cards
Independence Day
4 July
Picnic set
Halloween
31 October
Spooky activity packs
Bonfire Night
5 November
Candles
Thanksgiving
24 November
Recipe packs
Black Friday
25 November
Exclusive sales and promos
Holiday gifts
Giving Tuesday
29 November
Thank you cards
Christmas Day
25 December
Stocking fillers
Christmas cards
Get help and support
Whether you're new to us, or an existing user, we'll help you get your matched giving campaign up and running in no time.
Choose the level of support you need, either from building your own campaign and following our tutorials, or working with our Professional Services Team who'll do the heavy lifting for you.
As a Funraisin user, you can always get in touch with our Support Team anytime you need if you have a question.
Professional Services for everyone
I'm new
New to Funraisin and want to explore the possibilities of fundraising with us? With years of experience across fundraising, events and tech, our team is on hand to help you find the right fit for you. Your creativity is the only limit and we can't wait to see where you'll take your charity next.
I'm an existing user
If you’re planning an exciting new project or just want to revamp your site, our Professional Services team is here to help. With years of industry expertise and a passion for making change possible - you couldn’t be in safer hands. Your ideas inspire us everyday and we always accept a challenge.
Where to find help guides
Ready to get started? Head over to our Knowledge Base and we'll walk you through how to create a shop. We'll cover: creating shop products, creating virtual gifts. shop categories, shop module updates and creating promo codes.
