CAFECOSA Coffee Fundraiser

Testing Flavors - What do you think?

2008-03-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

We know that a lot of organizations would really like to be able offer flavored coffees. We've been relying on the wonderful natural flavor of Tarrazu coffee but WE HEAR YOU and we've done some research.

Of a long list of flavors that we've been offered we are currently sampling the following:
1. Bavarian Chocolate
2. French Vanilla
3. English Caramel
4. Hazelnut Creme
5. Mayan Cacao

I am personally excited about the Mayan Cacao because of the Central America connection and the reference to the Mayans, who I think should get much more praise on the world stage (Have you seen Apocalypto? Think what you will about Mel Gibson, but it definitely a thrill a minute!)

Let us know what you think of the flavors we're sampling or if there is something that we've left out!

From Costa Rica

2008-03-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

The company blog has been a little bit quiet for the past few days because we're all in Costa Rica! It's a big company get-together planning strategy, visiting the coffee coops and honey producers, and making plans for expansion with the roaster and employees. One thing we're working on is the addition of flavors for our coffee. That is coming up in the next post.

Motivate Parents with Your Mission - Not a Product!

2008-03-09T13:31:00.001-07:00

Recently a woman approached us to do a fundraiser for a pre-school that had suffered a tragic flood. The carpeting, paint, and countless toys and books had to be replaced or redone. It was a truly desperate situation for the pre-school and the families affected.

The woman asked us to look over the flyer that she'd written up to notify people about the fundraiser and the kick-off meeting to start off the sales and we noticed something. She'd given a lot of information about the coffee. She wrote about the great taste, that is was Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certified, and that it and our other products like the Coffee Flower Honey were great gift ideas. But, she missed something huge. The flood.

Our client missed the most important part of her fundraiser and the element that bonded the entire pre-school community - the reason for having the fundraiser in the first place: the pre-school needed help. The parents were all affected by the flood and they felt a sense of community spirit in being part of the effort to restore it. This is the message that should be communicated to the people you are counting on to help do the work in a fundraiser. The point of connection and the feeling of shared responsibility was the school - the coffee was merely a tool to help the school back on its feet.

So, when attempting to generate support for your fundraiser, don't forget the reason why people will become participants - it's not the coffee, it's the thing that affects their lives; the common cause that you share with your community be it church, team, troop, or, of course, pre-school.

Sales Tactics - Profit Now or Later*

2008-03-07T07:30:00.001-08:00

Different organizations have different needs - quick profits or less administration, no pre-payment or no pre-sales. You have to consider the strengths of your own organization when thinking about these issues.

The vast majority of our customers sell coffee, honey and plants through pre-sales and then order the products from us at the same time they get their own cut of the profits. It is a great option for organizations that don't have the cash to purchase products up-front.

However, many customers choose to purchase products up-front and then offer them at large events or outside of a shop for direct purchase by customers. This can be very compelling for some customers who like to see and touch the product they are buying. It also cuts down on the administration necessary for the fundraiser since there is no money collection or distribution of products to participants before ultimate distribution to the customer.

So, pre-sales or pre-payment? One way or the other the option is open. You have to choose the one that is best for your organization.

Coffee & Girl Scout Cookies - What a Treat!

2008-03-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

I love girl scout cookies. I was walking out of the supermarket this weekend and saw a couple girl scouts at a table stacked with delicious cookies.

"Would you like some girl scout cookies?"

I wanted to say "5 boxes of Thin Mints to last me through the week - but no more!" But, I held my ground, smiled, and saved myself some grief on the scale.

The thing that almost had me running back, though, was that the cookies are a real treat. I love to get them and since they are only available sporadically it adds to the appeal (and perhaps to the tendency of people to hoard boxes).

That made me think about the ability to increase the appeal of gourmet coffee, or any product that you might be selling, by positioning it as a treat. It works for cookie dough, kettle corn, and, of course, Girl Scout Cookies. I think it could also work very well for Gourmet Costa Rican coffee!

You can offer customers a real TREAT - the rich taste of one of the world's finest coffees - Tarrazu. Most Tarrazu beans are used in blends of other coffees to cover the taste of low quality beans. But with our beans you can have the full taste that is so rare.

Another treat? Coffee Flower Honey! See them both at www.CAFECOSA.com!

New Fundraising Chairman? Wait to Rock the Boat.

2008-02-27T16:21:00.001-08:00

So, you're the new fundraising chair. You might not love the fundraisers that you have traditionally done, but before you change them, think twice.

Any fundraiser that has brought in money in the past is a successful one. So, while you might be tired of cookie dough, you probably have people around you who have done it before and can help you along the way with logistics, collecting money, distributing the goods, etc.

Once you've got your feet wet, you've run a successful campaign and you have the respect of the group you are leading, that's when you come in with a new and exciting idea.

If you rock the boat too soon, people will push back. But as an experienced veteran of the game, you will be able to rally the other participants to new heights.

We suggest coffee! ;)

Auctions, Events and Coffee

2008-02-26T10:21:00.000-08:00

A lot of schools do multiple fundraisers each year and they need every penny. It is a good idea to mix it up and vary the fundraising efforts. If your school does an auction, perhaps adding a sales-oriented fundraiser can help. If your school already does a sales fundraiser then try throwing an event.

We believe that the key to successful fundraising is to look at it through the way that in enriches the community at large. Selling cookie-dough and then selling wrapping paper and then selling candy doesn't do much to enrich the lives of the customer (the person who you are going to for money). It is a constant barrage of products.

The great thing about an auction or an event is not that you can raise money - it is the camaraderie and sense of shared mission that you bring to the group from whom you are trying to raise money.

You can remind people of the shared mission by creating custom labels on our Coffee. Not only does it satisfy a daily need for your customers, but by creating a custom label you can instill a daily reminder of their connection to your organization, be it a school, a cheering squad, a church group, or a sports team.

When people recognize their connection to your group, they are much more likely to help.

Trader Joe's Loves Tarrazu Coffee!

2008-02-21T11:02:00.001-08:00

Need evidence of the great taste of Costa Rican Tarrazu Coffee? The upscale grocery store Trader Joe's is singing the praises of the fine Costa Rican coffee in their quarterly newsletter the Fearless Flyer. About Tarrazu Coffee they say:

"The microclimates of Costa Rica are well known for contributing unique flavors to their coffee bean crops... Coffee beans grown at higher elevation, such as these, are known for their flavor complexities. And this coffee is no exception. This medium dark roast coffee yields a bright, well-balanced cup with a smooth finish."

What they don't mention are the chocolatey undertones of the coffee and the faint sweetness. These are most prominent in the highest grade bean, Tarrazu #1, that we purchase special directly from the local cooperative of which we are a member. Most Tarrazu in the US is sold as a blend of some #1 and the lower grade, less expensive grades. We stick with the #1 and the fundraisers hear the benefits as people ask "When are you going to sell coffee again?"

High class supermarkets are starting to pick up on the high quality of Tarrazu Coffee. Your organization can reap the benefits of this fine product as well.

Continuous Fundraisers with Gourmet Coffee

2008-02-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

Parents don't like to do sales. That's nothing new. Many of them would rather give a donation or make a small purchase themselves rather than flog lousy products to their friends.

For the fundraising coordinator who has seen this problem in the past, gourmet coffee can help you bring people back for more than a small donation or token purchase. Some of our clients have run continuous fundraisers that bring in funds each month. Because people drink coffee regularly, many families would be willing to purchase a monthly bag or two (some families might purchase 3 or 4 - especially those Northwest folks).

Running a fundraiser that sends a couple bags of coffee home with a child the first week of each month provides a benefit to the parents and the school. And with custom labels, your school can brand the coffee and maintain a connection to the parents that they remember with their morning ritual.

In short - profits without sales, a continuous stream of funds, and happy parents drinking great coffee. Could be a great program for your school.

No Flavored Coffee – But a Great Solution!

2008-02-15T11:43:00.000-08:00

For everyone who really wants to do a fundraiser but wants flavored coffees - We're Sorry! We don't have them. Not yet at least. Why not? Cost of equipment.

We're a pretty small company in the mountains of Costa Rica. The company mission is to try and create local jobs in our area so families aren't forced to split up as they seek work elsewhere. We have a roaster, but we can't use it for flavored coffee because once you put the flavoring in a roaster it is difficult to clean - all of the coffee comes out tasting like one flavor or another. So, before we can produce flavored coffee we need another roaster. Maybe next year!

In the meantime we have an idea! Instead of offering flavored coffees you could offer them flavored coffeemate to be delivered with the coffee. You can buy it in bulk from Sam's Club or Costco and sell it for a profit. It's one more product that you can offer potential customers to round out their order.

If nothing else you've still got rich, delicious coffee with chocolate overtones and a clean finish. A wonderful flavor in itself!

Encourage Parent Participation with 2-Hour Power!

2008-02-12T15:36:00.000-08:00

Are you struggling to convince parents to devote time and energy to your fundraising activities? It is a problem that many organizations have. So many parents have been burned by getting involved - they agree to help out and they then find an endless stream of meetings that extend of over weeks and weeks. The easiest way out for a parent - do nothing.

PTO Today has a great idea to overcome the hurdle. It is a program called 2-Hour Power. It helps organizers bring in a larger group of parents by encouraging, and even celebrating, small contributions!

To learn more about 2-Hour Power click here.

Fundraising with Small Groups can mean Big Profits

2008-02-07T08:23:00.001-08:00

Often people with small fundraising groups think that they don't have enough manpower to raise significant funds. Well, we've found that small groups have a big advantage - the ability to organize! When the whole group feels invested in the mission and the team works together with a plan they can do BIG things.

Not only is it easier to communicate with a small group but the members of the group often feel a much greater responsibility to the cause. Setting goals and keeping track of progress can spur people to act AND can increase the fun of the program.

Got 5 - 10 people? Get together with a couple pizzas and your cell phones and call down a list of friends (or parents friends). See who can sell the most in 60 minutes. A few sessions like that and you can surpass your fundraising goals. Keep track, make it fun!

Do you have success stories about how your small groups have turned big profits? Leave a comment!

Gourmet Coffee - A Great Fundraiser

2008-02-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

We think that there are three primary reasons why coffee is a great fundraising product.

1. Everyone Drinks Coffee. Well, nearly everyone. Especially the people who end up spending money on fundraising products - the PARENTS! Sell to the real customer - the parents and show them that you care about their needs.

2. It's In The Budget. I buy coffee every couple weeks. I don't miss my daily pot. So, if a fundraiser comes to my door with coffee and a good cause, I am more likely to buy it than candy or a tub of cookie dough (there goes my new year's diet).

3. Great Coffee = Repeat Customers. How often do you have fundraisers where the customers request the solicitors to return? Our gourmet Costa Rican coffee is so good that the fundraiser has become a regular offering of many organizations - and their customers are happy.

Welcome!

2008-02-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

Hi there and welcome to the CAFECOSA Coffee Fundraising blog. We get a lot of questions about how or why to do a coffee fundraiser. The CAFECOSA Coffee Fundraising blog will provide you with information about how your fundraising group can break out of the cookie dough and wrapping paper fundraising prison and try something new - something that your customers drink everyday - coffee!

The great thing about coffee fundraising with CAFECOSA is that it is a product that people are going to buy anyway. And since so many people drink coffee, it is not hard to find customers.

But the best part about our coffee fundraiser is that it is great coffee. Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee is world-renowned and has been criticized for being "too perfect". Customers will remember the great taste and will be glad to purchase on your next fundraiser.

Feel free to leave your comments and stories about your fundraising efforts. If you have tips on how to rally a large group effectively or anecdotes about selling products we'd love to hear them.

Learn more about CAFECOSA Fundraiser at www.cafecosa.com.