With the increased ability to access coupons – in the weekly circulars, online and on smartphones, and through sites like Groupon – people are more apt to use such discounts when going out. Oftentimes, people base their decision of where to go or what to eat on the availability of coupons or deals.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, spending on dining out increased from 4.9 percent in 2015-2016 to 6.7 percent in 2016-2017. Americans are going out more often, and dining out has become a regular habit with 61 percent of people eating out at least once a week, according to a Gallup Poll. With these current trends, now is a good time to choose discount cards as your fundraising option.
If the increase in dining out by American consumers is not enough to convince you, here are three more reasons why discount cards are the best fundraising option.
Reason One: High Profits
When planning different fundraising ideas for your group, you should figure out a target percentage for your group’s profit. Most fundraiser planners aim for a fifty percent profit. When selling candles, cookie dough, and other brochure fundraisers, you can typically expect to reach this profit margin.
With discount card fundraisers, however, you can make up to 85 percent profit. Plus customers get ten to fifteen percent discount on a variety of restaurants, entertainment, and other local locations that they regularly visit anyway.
Sales for discount cards can be higher than when selling brochure items because people know that they are already dining out… why not save money on something you’re already doing? It practically sells itself.
Reason Two: Mobile Access
Smartphone capabilities continue to grow with the number of smartphone users in 2019 predicted at 2.5 billion people. While many people still prefer to have a physical card in hand when using discounts at restaurants and other locations, others like the freedom of using a mobile app instead.
Customers don’t need to worry about carrying around the discount card to receive savings when dining out. Instead, discount cards come with access to a mobile app through a unique registration code that is located on each card. Once registered, the app reveals the best local deals that can be redeemed directly from the phone. Customers will have access to over 400 national merchants and thousands of local organizations directly through their phones. There are a total of 250,000 locations that offer discounts through fundraising discount cards.
However, customers can still use the discount card itself when dining out or even print off coupons from the website. They can click, swipe, print, or call to redeem the discount, making these cards easy to use for any buyer.
Reason Three: Options
Unlike other fundraising choices, discount cards offer a variety of options for your donors. When you sell candles, people can only choose from different sizes and scents of candles. When you sell candy, people have a selection of different sweets. But when you sell discount cards, people can select from a variety of restaurants, entertainment choices, or other activities.
For instance, a card can entitle the holder to receive a discount at popular dining locations like Red Lobster, Olive Garden, or Longhorn Steakhouse. Or get some ice cream at Baskin Robbins, a toasted sub at Quizno’s, or a roast beef sandwich at Arby’s. Cards can also be used at AMC or Cinemark movie theaters, where discount cards provide deals off of regular movie prices.
For individuals who don’t go out to eat or to the movies often, the cards are still viable for everyday discounts. They offer savings at stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club, and Walgreen’s, in addition to reducing purchase prices at places like Van Heusen, Reebok, and Aeropostale.
Discount cards are great for fundraisers because they also can be used for travel purchases. Deals are available at car rental services like Avis, National, and Hertz. Plus, users can access online the travel section for the guaranteed best deal on hotels and other travel services.
Choose Discount Cards
Rather than asking your group to sell the usual products or brochure items, choose discount cards fundraiser. These low-maintenance, high-profit cards not only help your group to meet their financial goal, but they are also easy to sell. Those who purchase discount cards get up to fifty percent off at a myriad of locations while your group gets the funds they need.
