Co-Chairs: John Ehlers 302-668-9006 (m)
Ray Christensen 302-685-3536 (m)
Website, Shopping Cart, Marketing: Ray C
Inventory Coordinator: Bruce A
Communications Coordinator: John E
PR Coordinator: Mike D
Transportation Coordinator: Jim G
Event Coordinator: OPEN
Warehouse Coordinator: Ron J
Pricing Coordinator: Bob D
Drivers/Movers: OPEN
Our Plan 1/27/21 Email Message to Council:
SUBJ: K of C Input Needed: Online Thrift Shop
Brothers,
Given the present circumstances, our main fundraiser, the Lenten Fish Fry, may not occur this year. As such, we’ve been considering other options. With a goal of raising a comparable amount of money, one idea is an Online Thrift Shop.
Knights, parishioners and community members would donate new or used items and our council “sells” at bargain prices, similar to a Thrift Store or Flea Market. To keep safe social distancing, it would work like this:
1. Donors would bring items to SJB parking lot
2. People can purchase thru a “shopping cart” on our website.
3. Buyers would p/u items in SJB parking lot.
There’s alot of logistics, but we’ve been formulating a plan and are very optimistic!
For details, see https://sjbkofcde.org/market/, which includes link to Goodwill’s online thrift shop as good example.
1. If you’d consider helping us, contact Ray Christensen or John Ehlers (emails below).
2. We seek a personal or business donation of storage space (approx 2-car garage) for possibly several months. If you have contact with a possible donor/sponsor, let us know asap.
3. Email to Ray Christensen a list of up to 3 items that you could likely donate for us to sell, that would have a value of at least $10. (anything that would be purchased at a Thrift Store except clothing and large furniture). Questions welcome in your email.
Partial list of categories:
Antiques, Art, Bath/home, blankets, throws, Books/Movies/Music, Cameras, Collectibles, gift items, Computers & Electronics, Crafts & Hobbies, Furniture (small), Jewelry, Watches, Pet Supplies, Religious items, Tableware and Kitchenware, Tools, hardware, home & garden, Sports gear/Bicycles, Toys/Dolls/Games, Travel/Luggage
We look forward to your assistance or questions!
Ray Christensen 302-685-3536 (m)
John Ehlers 302-668-9006 (m)
Past Meeting Notes
Meeting Notes: 1/19/21
Attending: Ray, John, Tom, Bob D, Bill, Ron
Worthy Grand Knight:
1. I’d appreciate a couple minutes at this evening’s Zoom to introduce our idea to the council.
2. Some time before February meeting, would like to email council to see if each of us could email a list of up to 3 items that they’d likely donate (of $10 value or greater) – and to ask if anyone has contact who could donate/sponsor storage space.
Worthy Brother Kevin:
Just to be sure, could we get a definite answer from Parish as if we’d be able to have any storage space or 1 or 2 parking spots for PODS container? Then we know to pursue other options.
1/19 Recap: We’re dreaming big, with goal of matching Fish Fry revenue and could add components to increase even more. Online store could generate interest to make an in-person event more successful when practical.
Share https://sjbkofcde.org/market/ or this email with any Brother who’d consider attending our next Zoom – especially younger men.
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/ is good example of our “Online MarketPlace” or “Online Thrift Store”. They do auction, but ours would be set prices on almost everything. We would have similar categories.
We would not accept clothes, except for special categories such as school uniforms, sports gear, maybe hats.
Minimum value / price of $10 likely, since below that is not worth the logistics.
Would likely create PayPal account to accept online credit & debit cards + paypal.
We’ll seek to have other parish and community organizations help request items and spread word – potentially offering them a small share of receipts at some point.
John is checking with Debbie for Craft Show input.
Needs:
Potential personal or business sponsors to donate short or long term storage space with area similar to 2-car garage.
Shelving units – from heavy duty metal to light duty plastic, as long as it’s free!
- Website, Shopping Cart, Marketing: Ray C
- Inventory Coordinator – Spreadsheet data entry of items/record keeping
- Communications Coordinator – handle follow-up phone calls/emails/texts from donors and potential buyers
- PR Coordinator – parish bulletin, Facebook/instagram, email list, community contacts, etc
- Transportation Coordinator – recruit vehicles, drivers, manpower for transport of items to/from storage and for occasional p/u and delivery of high value items.
- Event Coordinator – setup, operation of our drop-off and p/u events
- Warehouse Coordinator – organization and tagging of items for efficient storage and location of items
- Pricing Coordinator – research to set optimal initial price for donated items.
- Drivers, Movers – as needed
Meeting Notes: 1/26/21
Attending: Ray, John, Jim, Bob, Ron
Team roles assigned (see https://sjbkofcde.org/market/)
Email address and PayPal account created.
Kevin is suggesting Jamie Moulthrop (Parish Outreach) as resource.
Ron F is donating garage space.
Jim G sent message to council to request help and list of items to donate.
Target date to launch is approx April 10 (warm weather starts for gather/distribute events)
Needs:
Potential personal or business sponsors to donate short or long term storage space with area similar to 2-car garage.
Shelving units – from heavy duty metal to light duty plastic, as long as it’s free!
Agenda for next Zoom (2/2):
Designate additional team roles.
Create initial timeline towards goal date.
Review inventory of potential items.
Decide how to publicize to gather more items.
Review spreadsheet and website sample.
Contact Ray or John with questions, leads, etc. Encourage Brothers to join our team.
Meeting Notes: 2/2/21
Attending: Ray, John, Bob, Ron
Team roles assigned (see https://sjbkofcde.org/market/)
Email address and PayPal account created.
Ron F is donating garage space.
Shelving units will be donated for us to p/u in Wilmington.
Jim G sent message to council to request help and list of items to donate.
Target date to launch is approx April 10 (warm weather starts for gather/distribute events)
Needs:
Potential personal or business sponsors to donate short or long term storage space with area similar to 2-car garage.
Team members to take roles such as Inventory / Spreadsheet Coordinator
Agenda for next Zoom (2/9):
Designate additional team roles.
Create initial timeline towards goal date.
Decide how to publicize to gather more items.
Ray will create website prior to next meeting.
Contact Ray or John with questions, leads, etc. Encourage Brothers to join our team & submit lists of items.
Update: 3/30/21
Tonight’s 730pm Zoom Meeting
https://shop.sjbkofcde.org is updated with all known items. You will see that I can set the store to display items, but not allow purchases until a designated time. This allows shoppers to preview what is available.
Accomplishments in past couple weeks:
– Picked up 2 donated shelf units for storage.
– Helped Ron prepare his garage and clear space.
– Ron donated a large number of items to the shop.
– Parish will allow us to use parking lot for designated collection & distribution times.
– We’ve filled many of our crucial positions. More help is needed.
– Set dates for event: Collection 5/8 9am-noon, Distribution 5/15 9am-noon
– Both dates will be at SJB and also via p/u, dlvy service by 2-person teams.
– We’ll set a collection date for Knights some time in April.
3/23 Zoom meeting attendees were John, Ray, Bob, Bruce, Mike D. Ron
3/27 meeting at Ron’s included Ron, John, Ray, Bruce, Tom, Mike D.
You’re welcome to share this msg with anyone who would consider attending our Zoom meeting tonight or next week.
Regards,
Ray
Update: 4/18/21
4/13 Zoom meeting attendees were John, Ray, Bob, Bruce, Mike D. Ron, Joe K, Tony
4/17 meeting at Ron’s included
Accomplishments in past couple weeks:
– Confirmed collection and distribution dates, updated website
– Created process of receiving donated items, set initial prices
– Created advertising copy for bulletins, nearby parishes, Dialog, Facebook