Customizing profitability
Wooster — FJ Designs’s new customer focus is showing promise as a way to help the company weather the current economy.
Known for The Cat’s Meow Village and for Designwear lines, the company now offers fundraising programs through its My World personalization program.
“For years, we have done custom replicas for a variety of places that are meaningful to people, whether it be their church, their school, a local landmark and so forth,” said Brent Rice, an account representative. “… But with the My World line and adjustments in product that we have initiated with that product line, we are able to offer what is, in my opinion, an amazing opportunity for schools.”
Churches and other organizations also can participate in the fundraising opportunity, which includes no minimum orders and provides a 50 percent profit to the organization. Many fundraiser products have a short life, such as cookie dough or gift wrap, which “have their place” but no real meaning beyond supporting the organization, Rice said.
“What they get out of our fundraiser is something that’s going to be longer lasting and touches on the memories of those schools, and we see a lot of value in that,” he said.
Essentially, organizations can tap into My World’s personalization capabilities to create designs that represent the organization in a unique way, providing products with lasting value while also supporting the organization. And because products are customized, supporters won’t find the same exact product at the next school or organization.
“There’s an awful lot of school pride that’s out there and we feel that emotional connection was so strong for us to move in the direction of trying to develop these relationships,” Rice said.
