As you probably already know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Your Spa, Salon, Shop and yes, even your Barber Shop can not only participate and help along with your community but you can also increase your sales by PINKing up. From the high end Spas to the corner Barbershop, you have influence and a means to help your community as well as the Breast Cancer Research or more directly individuals affected by Breast Cancer. Some suggestions are easy, no frill ways to help and others are more involved, but whatever you choose to do will make a difference. YOU are an important influence in your community. Don't underestimate how much impact YOU can have!
YOU = Information and Influence in Your Community
Who: The first step in planning should be deciding do you want to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research, an Individual, or an established Non-profit Organization or do you want to simply raise Breast Cancer Awareness? Either are GREAT!
When: Decide whether you are going to have a month long event, a few separate events, one event or any event at all.
Where: Make sure whatever you plan will fit in your space or prepare to look for a venue. Venues can be expensive but I have a tip for you. Securing a FREE venue can be easy by networking with fellow businesses like restaurants, health clubs, even local pubs. These types of areas can be FREE if you approach the owners with a plan that includes marketing for them. By "hosting" an event these businesses benefit as well.
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Studies have shown that people when offered comparable products, will chose the one that is somehow "giving back" and the same line of thinking goes for locations. If Restaurant A is offering soup for $1.99 and Restaurant B is offering the same soup for $1.99 but, they are donating ten cents to the local food bank, consumers are much more likely to choose restraunt B because they like that warm, fuzzy feeling of somehow making a difference and supporting a cause.
What: This is much harder to define. Based on your decisions for "who", "when" and "where", you should now have a clear idea what your goal is. If it is to raise funds, then you must have decide how much you wish to raise and how you wish to obtain donations. If your goal is to raise awareness, then you should be guided by the prior "who", "when" and "where" and decide the
How.
How: Here are some suggestions for you for both breast cancer fundraisers and breast cancer awareness campaigns. These are in no way the
only things you can do, these are only suggestions and I would love to hear what YOU are doing to make a difference! Comments are most welcome.
One of our customer orders a case of these Diane Pink and Strong Foot Files from us every year. She is a Stylist and a Survivor of Breast Cancer. She retails the Diane Foot Files for $5.00 Each and Donates all the Profits to the Susan G. Komen Organization, Where You Can Find More Ways You Can Help!
The
National Cancer Institue has FREE publications that can be downloaded and printed directly from your computer or ordered and mailed to you for a small shipping fee. One Barber Shop I know added these pamphlets to their "waiting" chairs and vending areas, raising awareness.
National Women's Health Resource Center of
The Healthy Women Organization Offers FREE Shower Hanger Cards to Promote Self Breast Exams. Bulk orders are FREE only charging a nominal fee for shipping/handling. One Spa gave EVERY customer (men and women) one of these in a Swag Bag of Pink Goodies.
The
CDC also offers FREE Breast Cancer information and an E-Card that you can send to all your clients at no costs to you!
Ahead of Style Offered Pink hair extensions, pink polish, pink make-up and more at the Race for the Cure in their city.
Day Glow Health Spa is Donating $5.00 for Every Skin Care Service to the National Breast Cancer Foundation
Kal Cauthen, Celebrity Barber, Offers FREE Cuts to those with cancer and walked the walk for Breast Cancer.
The Look Good, Feel Better Charity in the UK has Stylists, Manicurists, Barbers and other beauty professionals that volunteer to give Breast Cancer patients make-overs that not only make them feel better but look good.
Hollywood Salon and Day Spa is selling raffle tickets for prizes donated by themselves and other businesses and holding a Cut-a-thon with ALL proceeds being used to help Breast Cancer Help Inc.
GROOMING FOR THE PINK CURE – Beverly Hills Dog will donate a portion of all pet grooming proceeds during the month of October to help find a cure for breast cancer. All groomed pets will receive a breast cancer awareness bandana; parents will receive a pink carnation. (I really love this!)
And finally, one aspiring Professional Pet Groomer said she was busy making Pink Breast Cancer Ribbons for the pooches as well as their owners to wear.
Public Relations: Don't forget to contact your local newspapers, radio stations and news teams. They love community service stories!
If you're doing something special to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness or Funds, leave me a comment, and I will gladly add you to the list!
Dani
