July's Sales Fundraising Stars: Four Businesses And Their Charitable Impact.
In our new monthly celebration of sales fundraising stars, we tell the stories of inspiring businesses and the people behind them who are committed to making a difference by donating to charity. These are sole traders, and micro to medium businesses who are giving back to their communities or are taking action to protect the planet by raising awareness and vital funds for nonprofits through their sales.
Not a typical corporate and charity partnership, these businesses, or as we like to call them 'sales fundraising stars' don't ask for anything from the charities but strive to raise much-needed funds for a cause they care about. Part of a growth in businesses putting profit alongside purpose, sales fundraising is on the rise and making a brilliant and powerful impact.
Read on to be inspired by four businesses and their sales fundraising stories.
Art of Football
We want to be part of the community and doing good”
David Cuthbert, Customer Service Director, Art of Football
Art of Football was started in Nottingham by brothers Luke and Gabe Cuthbert when Luke was at Leeds University and Gabe was studying for his A-levels. It has gone on to become a sort-after clothing brand loved by stylish footie fans across the UK.
A family-run business (Dave Cuthbert is their dad), they believe football is about ‘community not a commodity".
On a mission to ‘champion togetherness’ as well as ‘create common goals’ and inspire creative expression, they have been fundraising for local and national charities in creative ways since the pandemic hit. This has included raffling off 15 Ltd edition Nottingham Forest hats when the team got to the play-offs at Wembley, raising £2,680 for FareShare Midlands, to creating a special design in collaboration with a food blog called Footy Scran, which raised £500 forThe Trussell Trust.
Since December 2021 they have donated over £4,430 to food charity FareShare as well as £6,000 for local NHS charities. They are currently fundraising to help save the rhino which is an endangered species by donating £5 from every sale of their special endangered species Umbro shirt to the charity Helping Rhinos.
Big Hug Brewing
The relationship with the team at OAPA has gone beyond raising funds through the sale of Pave The Way Pale Ale. It's a meaningful relationship that I really value and I will continue to support them as we grow ”
Matt Williams
When Matt Williams moved back from London to Brighton to focus on building his craft beer company Big Hug Brewing, he was shocked and saddened to see the increase of people living on the streets. This drove him to find ways of making a difference to homeless people through his beer company and in a way that made sense to him.
He developed a beer to raise funds for Only A Pavement Away a charity that helps people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans find jobs within the hospitality, pub, and restaurant industry. He has also gone on to support the charity in multiple ways including organising venues in Manchester and Brighton for their Fill A Flask and Winter Warmth campaigns.
Through the keg sales of the Pave the Way Pale Ale, Matt and his customers have now raised £1,920 for Only A Pavement Away.
The Absolute Word
I have been fortunate in my life to have learned from, and been supported by, so many wonderful people; now it's my turn to pay that forward and help others.”
Katharine Matthews, Founder of The Absolute Word
When Covid hit, freelance copywriter Katharine Matthews saw how her sister, who works for a small charity, tirelessly strived to adapt services and keep supporting vulnerable people.
Inspired by her sister's incredible work, when Katharine launched The Absolute Word at the start of 2021, she wanted to use her business to help smaller nonprofits. She started to fundraise for charities by donating a portion of her sales. Although her earnings varied every month, particularly when starting out, being able to donate a percentage of her sales meant she could commit to fundraising sustainably, and her donations have grown from there. She also used her flair for copywriting to raise awareness of the charities - championing their causes on her social media platforms.
She has now raised an amazing £600.00 for several organisations, including Kit Tarka Foundation,The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, and Embracing Age. Her donations have helped each charity to deliver much-needed support, such as art therapy activity packs for patients’ use at Edinburgh Children's Hospital, and emergency food supplies to families and children in and around Ukraine through SOS Children’s Villages UK.
Katharine is currently fundraising for The Hunger Project UK and Richard House Children’s Hospice.
Sassy Shop Wax
Trailblazing entrepreneur and mum of two Keely Parsons started Sassy Shop Wax from her kitchen table in 2017 and it has grown into a multi-million pound business. Furthermore, in the last eighteen months, they have continually shown their commitment to helping others by supporting several UK charities.
Through several short sales fundraising campaigns Sassy Shop Wax has raised over £1,470 for charity, by donating £1 from the sale of a particular wax melt (a wax melt is a scented piece of wax, like a candle but without the wick! ).
Keely, her team, and her customers have gone on to donate to a wide range of charities from Make A Wish UK to the National Autistic Association. They are currently fundraising for the LGBT Foundation by donating £1 from every sale of their special Pride Scented Wax Melt.
