PhotosByFeist PalsSM Pet Photo Fund Raiser Events

To date, Pals(SM) pet photo events have earned $8,493.53 for animal rescue and welfare groups.

Current Pals(SM) event listing

Pals(SM) event beneficiary form

Pals(SM) event donation performace

A team effort at my outdoor studio at Bark in the Park 2010

History

Pals(SM) pet photo events came about when I was a volunteer taking Christmas photos for a local rescue group. We had a couple very successful weekends; customers bought merchandise to benefit the group that proved they loved what I was doing. I also noticed that people had a genuine love for their pets, and truly appreciated it when a good photo was taken of their pet. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to help. I wanted to use my talent to help rescue and community groups to raise money. The Pals(SM) concept was born.

Over the past 3 years, the Pals(SM) concept blossomed. From that first Christmas event, Pals(SM) expanded into five events. Soon, two new events are joining the event lineup, a lineup that now spans the calendar. Pals(SM) are Hampton Roads fastest-growing brand of pet portraits. Pals(SM) pet portraits are based on providing quality pet portraits to benefit rescue and community groups. A carefully-selected staff who love the pets we call clients, and the beneficiaries we call partners.

Concept

The PhotosByFeist studio set up in a retail store

Pals(SM) pet photo events are a great way for your organization to raise money. To date, PhotosByFeist has helped animal welfare groups earn $8,493.53. Additionally, PhotosByFeist's "Pound Pet Toy Drive" collects toys for homeless pets around Christmas time! Pals(SM) photo events are super-easy for beneficiaries to take part in, enabling even the smallest groups to earn money quickly. PhotosByFeist handles absolutely everything related to the event, including advertising, organizing, staffing the event, and all post-event order fulfillment.

What is required to be a partner?

Pals (SM) photo events are open to 501(c)(3) as well as community groups for partnership. Pals(SM) photo events require one person from your organization to be present during the event. That person usually is a people-greeter, standing at the store's entry selling raffles and telling people about the event. Based on experiences of groups, they have said that they recognize that having two people is probably better.

Partners must take the initiative to contact the store to schedule the event. This is because the store prefers knowing what group(s) the event is benefitting.

In summary, Pals(SM) photo events require:

How much do beneficiaries earn?

On average, beneficiaries earn $300 per weekend (see specific event fund-raising performances). The most successful fund raiser to date raised $560.85 in a single weekend! Overall, Pals(SM) photo events have raised $8,493.53.

Your group's success depends largely on two things: 1) how busy the photo studio is during the event, and 2) how effective the raffle sales person/people are who are selling raffle tickets for your cause. Number one is PhotosByFeist's focus. Two is entirely in the beneficiary's court. The raffle is a significant contributor to overall success. One person is all that's technically required, but providing two or more people to sell tickets is ideal.

Event beneficiaries earn money in numerous ways at a Pals(SM) photo event. The amounts shown below are cash and checks only; credit earnings are slightly reduced due to the cost of accepting credit cards. As a Pals(SM) photo event beneficiary, groups earn:

  1. 10% of the proceeds from sits,
  2. 10% of the contribution margin on merchandise,
  3. 100% of "keep the change," a round-up program,
  4. 70% of raffle proceeds.

Additionally, at our Christmas Pals(SM) event, we run a "Pound Pet Toy Drive." Unless your organization would directly benefit from the Toy Drive's collections, those toys are donated to PhotosByFeist's partner animal shelters, including the Norfolk SPCA and Norfolk Animal Care Center.

Questions and answers

Who can partner with PhotosByFeist on a Pals(SM) Photo event?

Any rescue or community group. We've helped 501(c)(3) organizations as well as civic groups raise money.

What events are there, and are some better money-makers than others?

New events are being added continually. For the most accurate listing, consult the page highlighting current Pals(SM) photo events.

Christmas has the highest average customer invoices, second is Easter. However, as Pals(SM) events establish a loyal following, all are becoming very popular. In 2010, for example, each event out performed the previous one in terms of money earned.

My group is interested in partnering. What do we do?

Because Pals(SM) photo events are so easy for groups to participate in, they fill up very quickly. Most are booked months in advance. Don't let that discourage you: if your group is interested, contact PhotosByFeist. At some point, you also need to download and complete the Pals(SM) Photo Fund Raiser Event Beneficiary Form.

What do you mean by "contribution margin"?

Contribution margin is a business term describing the amount of money actually made from selling an item. For example, PhotosByFeist sells item X. It must buy item X from a supplier for $1.50. Then, it is sold for $4.00. The contribution margin on that item is its retail price minus the cost to PhotosByFeist, or $4.00 – $1.50 = $2.50. Therefore, on item X, your group earns 10% on its contribution margin of $2.50, or 25 cents.

How much are earnings reduced by accepting credit cards?

Credit is fast and convenient, and since PhotosByFeist starting accepting cards, average invoice totals have risen. That's good news for partners because you're earning money on each item sold. There's a catch, though. Accepting credit is far from free. It costs merchants to accept credit on a variety of levels. When a sale is processed via credit, the amount contributed to your group declines by 5% plus 11 cents. That means a $1.00 contribution taken in via credit becomes $.84; $2.00 becomes $1.79, and so on. In all, the benefits to accepting credit far outweigh the transaction costs; your group will earn more money because a lot more people buy a lot more stuff.