Anyone ever donate a gift certificate for a mount to a DU function to be auctioned off? I donated one to my local DU chapter and the Minnesota waterfowl Assn this year. Its a great way to drum up more business, plus its a great cause. I consider it giving back something to the sport that pays my wage. We can all use more customers and what a better place to advertise then a banquet full of the type of people who want birds on thier walls.
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for the people to start coming around to your shop but if the quality is there they will. I have been donating to PF, DU, NWTF, Whitetails Unltd., RMEF for about 6 yrs. now and am finally getting the guys to see my way of thinking. It gives me a chance to interact with the people and show them the things that I do that most around here don't do. I also donate to state parks or local schools and make sure that I get these in the local papers. Any type of advertising that doesn't cost much of anything can't be bad. I always try to get permission in writing from various customers to use their mounts in my display at these banquets. That way people can see what to expect on their mounts.
its just a good idea, and I dont know many taxidermists who do it, and if you dont you really should. Jeff I aplaud you for your donations, and yes you are correct, if you do a good job you will get business. I really dont have a problem with that, but the coverage we get for donating to these organizations is a good insentive for the rest of our fellow taxidermist new or old to the business to participate in it. Besides, it is a great cause, and its tax deductable.
So for any of you who dont, or havent thought of it, you need to seriously consider it.
Been there, done that, got the sales pitch down pat. There are THOUSANDS of good and great organizations out there, but you can't donate to them all. I pick and chose very wisely. DU returns nothing to the local community. Elk Foundation, 3%, Buckmasters 50%, and Turkey Federation 65%. That's the percentage of the NET PROFIT of your local show that stays right in your community. Those are the only one's I know about, so you can see YOUR generosity isn't always returned in kind.
If it's advertising you want or to hear your business name called out, this is OK, but remember YOU are giving it to them, not the other way around. Make SURE you put a "Must be used before..." date on your donation as well. Some skin flints will save it for years if you don't and you'll take a beating on that. DU is notorious for not giving you a receipt for your donation as well. Make SURE you have a receipt so you can claim it on your taxes.
I've found that most of the buyers of these donations already know what you charge for the work and would never think of paying more for it than that anyway. These people are the ones looking for "discounts" and I, personally, can do without them. My customers advertise for me and it doesn't cost me a cent.
Pick and chose carefully just WHO you donate to or they'll all be at your door looking for handouts.
I used to have a display booth at our DU chapter banquet and donated a certificate for a bird mount every year for six years. The first few years were great, but the last couple of years they started putting me farther back in a corner and the bidders were bidding way to low for it to be worth donating anymore. I did pick up a a number of customers the first few years but after that just a few.
I really agree with George on most of the clients already know what you charge and are not willing to bid anymore than that. The last year I did one the guy wanted a nice Widgeon on a fance base. He got the high bid at $175.00 (my widgeons are $225.00). I told him he got a Widgeon on a piece of driftwood. He knew what my prices were ( I had done a competition goose mount on a base for him a few years back)and that base work was extra but figured he could get what he wanted cause he was the high bidder. He's no longer a client, he found someone to do cheaper work for him. I always put a use by date on my certs when donating.
I haven't done it for the last two years and don't plan on doing any in the future.
:)
Its a great feeling to donate..Ive done that sort of thing for the last 20 years with all the Org's... We even allowed a guy to use his DU cert twords a deer head..Nolonger... Gave away my last..If your doing good work it will get around.......
Done $3500 in fish for the fisheries dept..Not again.. no exsposure in the office area... only them wanting more for free.. I got over the donate fever..
The next week the guy brought in six birds. It's a 50/50 gamble. It just depends on who gets the certificate!
-Mike
DU puts it's assets into keeping hunters from getting ducks. DU is run by non-hunters. It puts too much money into providing places where ducks have learned to go to avoid hunters. A refuge near where I hunt has doubled in size largely because of DU dollars. I believe in wise concervation, but this is an extreme that has made for poor hunting. Poor hunting discourages people from hunting. So, we lose hunters. The more hunters we lose the weaker we are. My dollars will not support DU any longer.
but remember, most of the anti-hunters money is spent on chiken costumes! Or did you say non-hunters? Oh-well.
-Mike
I just cant believe that so many of us out there are so damn worried about not getting what they consider there fare share. I am a DU member, I do volunteer for projects including the banquet, and I do think DU is a great thing. I just hope none of you are activley trying to talk others out of donating.
NOW we know why you feel as you do. You can think what you want, but Tony Finazzo is right on with his comment. That's why Delta Waterfowl came into being. DU was turning into a bunch of bunny huggers. Why don't you ask your regional chairman of an initiative a few years back were DU wanted to actually DOWN PLAY the role of hunters in preservation of ducks. How many DUCK HUNTS does your local chapter auction off? How many DUCK GUNS does your chapter auction off? Most auctions I've been to, and I've been to hundreds, are inundated with prints, carvings, sculptures, and nicknacks of all pedigrees. Speaking of pedigrees, only a very few offer retriever pups at their auctions any more either. Most DU monies go to headquarters who either uses it for themselves, paying region directors and buying their fancy Suburbans and to Canada where limits are more liberal and seasons are longer. DU is quickly becoming a shadow of the venerable Sierra Club which USED TO BE a friend of outdoors people. Those days are dwindling fast. But good luck to you and your endeavors. I honestly wish you well.
right on ! George and Tony ..I was the Area Chairman for our local DU Committe for 5 years worked my butt off thinking I was putting back , helping our waterfowl .Never have I been so frustrated !I am a duck hunter , conservationist just like most who are lured blindly into this yuppy drunk fund raiser thats told it's for the Ducks yeah right !I dealt with paid DU folks on a normal basis and year after year it was we need to raise more more more money .for WHO ? the freakin Regional Director !'who was an ass by the way ' David S ! to have more money for himself ..I got to see where the money really went ..I hunt ducks,build boxes etc but my $ goes to those who really care like DW ..look at giving to your State Game Commission if you really want to help the ducks !if you stay involved you'll see it's your money they want the ducks nor you matter to them ! to reinterate DU sucks ! they will never get one more red cent of my money or time !