Many, many non-profit organizations, important entities from Little League Baseball groups to charities to local firefighting organizations solely exist from the money they take from donations and fundraisers. So fundraisers are a key part of keeping the doors open for these organizations.

Why wouldn’t they maximize the way that they raise money then? Most of these organizations run the same old tired fundraisers over and over again, selling the same worn out merchandise that people are bombarded with, as they get the same stuff from churches, schools, you name it.

The top 5 fundraising items sold:

1. Pizzas - who hasn’t bought a pizza kit from the PTA?

2. Candy - Door to door overpriced candy?

3. Junk items - Nothing like buying a $5 toy that costs $20 and then shows up 3 months later.

4. Lottery tickets - $5 lottery tickets for a $25 jackpot that no one you’ve ever met has won.

5. Bull and oyster roasts - Well, at least there’s food, even if you have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it.

No, in this day and age people are looking for instant gratification. Plastic fundraising cards offer instant gratification. Fundraising cards also offer value. You get local vendors to offer specials on the card. Vendors get marketing, a write off and new customers. Your organization sells them for as much as $10 keeping ALL the money. There’s no overhead because there’s no pizzas or candy to pay for. You pay for the plastic cards, that’s it, and they cost pennies on the dollar you take in.

Don’t waste fundraising opportunities if your organization relies on fundraising to operate. Your opportunities and the dollars they raise are too precious

By now we’ve all seen the plastic gift cards big companies like Sam’s Club and Walmart use, and we’ve seen the plastic keytags and membership cards that companies like Blockbuster  or Gold’s Gym use, but did you know that many small businesses can benefit from plastic cards as well. Not only are plastic cards durable, they help increase sales, profit and are very cost effective.

How can they help your small business?

Plastic cards stand out from the pack, and are a way to brand your logo, graphics and likeness on a medium that will last and be used. Every time the are used people will see them. You can buy very small lots, as few as 500 for example, and they are very inexpensive. Just because your business is small, doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of the growing popularity, ease of use, and marketing potential that different types of plastic cards offer.

Whatever your business is, if you offer a service or any kind of merchandise, you can benefit from some form of plastic card. You can run promotions with gift cards. You can build and track customer bases. Even salespeople, lawyers and doctors can benefit from the use of plastic business cards, which last far longer than paper cards anjd look much better.

Face it, plastic cards are here to stay.

Tis the season to be jolly! And if you’re a business owner, particularly if you offer a service or retail or wholesale goods, tis the season to make money.

That should bring a smile to your face. We have a tip on how to increase your Christmas time sales dramatically. Make sure you are stocked up on plastic gift cards. Plastic gift cards are huge this time of year. Many people give them for their ease of use.  They simply purchase them and give them as a gift. Here’s the kicker, most people that receive them use them within a month, and they also put more money on them to spend.

Not only can you increase sales at Christmas time, but you can increase in store sales with plastic gift cards for weeks and months to come. Refillable plastic gift cards allow people to add funds that can only be spent at your store. They also expose your logo and brand your name. So this Christmas get the gift that keeps on giving… To YOU. Stock up on plastic gift cards and take advantage of the Christmas season!

By now many managers and business owners see the benefits of using plastic cards and plastic refillable cards. They’ve found that they can increase in store shopping, brand their name and their company with plastic cards and use a marketing tool that actually increases profit. Many clubs use plastic membership cards so customers can access their services, all the while marketing their name and logo to anyone that sees the card. Many stores do the same with loyalty cards and key cards. Plastic gift cards are a great way to get new business AND increase in store sales. Plastic business cards stand out from the crowd and last far longer than traditional cards. All of these plastic cards have functions, raise sales and increase profit.

How could they get even better?

Because now there are clear plastic cards and plastic refillable cards that stand out even more! That’s right, clear plastic cards, transparent cards, translucent cards and even frosted cards that look fantastic and separate you or your business from the crowd. You still have plenty of options for logos and colors, these clear plastic cards are completely unique, and you can start offering them to your customers today!

Duracard is the premier plastic card printing company on the market today. Be it plastic key cards, fundraising cards, plastic business cards or refillable plastic gift cards, Duracard stands head and tails above all the competition in the plastic card industry.

Why?

They specialize in printing plastic cards. They utilize high quality materials and offer full color high resolution graphics. Their cards are designed to last. they are cost effective. If you are seeking any kind of plastic card, be it a gift card or fundraising card or key card, Duracard will promptly fill your order, and will do so in an affordable manner. Visit their website at www.duracard.com for testimonials, rates and contact info for all of your plastic card needs.

Prepaid phone cards are an effective way to capitalize on the growing plastic card trend and to help develop and implement a marketing tool that not only pays for itself but can even turn a profit. Prepaid cards for cell phones and computer services are offered in many stores as more people use purchasable cell phones and buy minutes as they go than ever before. Many people use prepaid cards for their Internet service. Refillable prepaid cards are perfect for the instant gratification this generation thrives on. These prepaid phone or Internet cards are very easy to use and require no annual contracts or monthly fees. People buy them as they use them, or get refillable cards they can simply add to. Many people like these because they only buy what they need as they need it.

How can this help your company market itself AND turn a profit. Very simply, you sell the prepaid cards, which are inexpensive graphic cards, for a profit, but you imprint your logo and text on the cards so as people use the prepaid cards, they see your company and are reminded of it. The quality of printing on these cards if performed by a capable printer allows for high definition images in full color, just like a credit card, and they are very cost effective. Not only that, they have to come back to your store to buy more plastic cards or to refill the minutes on the prepaid cards. Prepaid cards, prepaid phone cards and refillable plastic cards are a win/win marketing solution for most any company.

Loyalty cards are one of the few marketing tools that work for current customers and potential customers. They can improve sales with existing customers, as they offer good customers incentives to do business with you, and they can attract new customers with potential rewards. The real beauty of loyalty cards is that they are so easy to track, and they offer your company, retail store or proprietorship valuable information regarding the people that use your services or buy your products.

Thanks to RFID’s, computers and smart cash registers, you can track who your customers are and how they shop. This is an invaluable tool you can use to refine and improve your business, to develop specials and sales that will succeed, and to find out and learn about the market you want to target for effective branding to grow your business. Loyalty cards work for any size business too, and are a cost effective way to brand, monitor and grow your business and to appease your customer base.

If you desire a business card that simply grabs ones attention, plastic business cards are the cards the cards for you. Plastic business cards stand out above and beyond any other business card. Lay a plastic business card, which looks like a plastic credit card or a plastic gift card, alongside a hundred paper cards and it will definitely stand out from the pack. After all, isn’t that what a business card is supposed to do? Isn’t being remembered its function? Plastic business cards not only get you noticed, they are far more durable and long lasting than paper business cards, for obvious reasons.

The funny thing is, if you have a good, quality printer who knows what they are doing and who uses high quality materials, you can do anything with a plastic business card that you can with a regular business card, and the cost isn’t that much difference, not for what you get from a plastic business card that you don’t get from a regular business card or a paper business card. Plastic business cards can be printed in full color and can have high resolution images embossed on them.

It seems almost silly to not buy plastic business cards if you think about it. You want a business card that gets someone’s attention, plastic business cards do by far. You want a business card to last, so the person you are giving it to will have your contact information. Plastic business cards last far longer than paper ones and your info doesn’t fade or scratch off and it cannot be written over. And as far as cost goes, they are extremely cost effective. The next time you order business cards, try plastic business cards and see for yourself how effective they are.

Durable plastic key cards are designed to fit most any key ring attachment, are designed to last and offer high quality colors and graphics. They are easy to use and are awesome for most any business to use, because once your customers attach them to their key ring, they’ll see your logo and be reminded of your services or products every time they use their keys. High Quality plastic key tags are printed in full color with high resolution images if you so desire, or simple logos and text. Each plastic key card or tag has a bar code which is designed to be scratch resistant, as is the whole plastic key tag, so that your logos, text and images are protected.Why are plastic key tags so fantastic for businesses?

• The plastic key tag holder reminds your customer of the product or services you provide each and every time they use their keys. It is an excellent branding mechanism, and when customers visit your store they will have the card right on their chain for ease of use.
• Plastic key tags fit on most any key chain.
• You can print most any logo or graphic on a plastic key tag, making them every bit as attractive as a standard plastic card.
• They make an excellent accessory to go along with plastic gift cards or your standard plastic card that your company would offer. One for the wallet, one for the key chain.
  

Many retailers have found an excellent way to increase same store sales in recent years with plastic gift cards. Refillable plastic gift cards have become increasingly popular in the past decade, with 2 out of every 3 people giving them on various occasions, such as birthdays and Holidays like Christmas. Business owners and managers give them to employees or clients. Many distant relatives send them to loved ones and they are excellent gifts for friends. But how does giving plastic gift cards increase in store sales?

1. They are only redeemable at the store that they are purchased for. Unlike money they are not good anywhere. They are similar to credit or debit cards, just assigned to a particular store, gift shop, gas station or retailer. Most any business can offer them for their products or services.

2. Over half of the people that receive plastic gift cards add money to them. Not only does it bring them to your store, it often gets them to increase the amount they would spend. Sometimes because they want something that costs more than what the gift card is worth but often because stores run specials for gift cards that induce people to put more money into them. Refillable gift cards, if produced by a good company, are exceptionally durable.

3. People will visit  your store to use the gift card, whereas often times they might go to a closer shop. Once inside your store they often purchase stuff they would have bought elsewhere. By offering the plastic gift cards you bring more traffic to your place of business and therefore more business.