The NonProfit Times - June 15, 2008 - (Page 7)

NONPROFIT STYLES bulk orders from hospices and hospitals to include in bereavement packets. The MISS bracelets are black with the inscription,“In mourning,”said Cacciatore, as “a kind of ritualization of the important part of the bereavement process.” In some cultures, people still wear black armbands when in mourning and during the Victorian Era it was black lapel pins, she said, so the bracelets have contemporized it. “It’s kind of made it a little more trendy to say, ‘I’m in mourning.’ A lot of people buy them when the initial trauma and death occurs, as an outward symbol of grief.” An all-volunteer organization, MISS Foundation has 77 chapters around the world.The bracelets are a “very tiny part of the annual budget,” Cacciatore said, as most of it comes from private donations. She estimates sales, not including bulk orders, of about 1,500 a month. The organization buys the bracelets for about 30 cents a piece and sells them for a dollar. Licensing their trademarks can mean millions for nonprofit organizations. For many years, Save The Children (STC) sold neckties featuring children’s artwork and designs. In an effort reinvigorate the market, the Westport, Conn.-based nonprofit will re-launch a new collection in time for Father’s Day this month. With interest waning on the retail front after many years, STC got together with its licensee and created an new line of ties based on the regions where the charity this past February in Las Vegas, where they were very well received, she said, sparking interest from five retailers. The ties were available for purchase on the Web beginning May 1.The classic line of ties will remain available. Considered a hallmark of STC’s products, the ties were launched in 1992 with Randa Accessories taking it over in 1998. “It was very successful until late, maybe the past year or two,” Sheppard said. “The designs were not refreshed enough. With apparel and accessories, it’s really about design. Any licensor worth their salt will tell you that. Even if a consumer has an affinity for a product, they don’t like to buy six of the same thing.” Randa is licensed to use the STC trademark and under that agreement has the right to produce and market ties, based on designs the charity approves.“They do the heavy lifting,” Sheppard said, with 3 percent of the retail price ($29.99) from each tie going to the charity. Last year, merchandise made up part of the $11 million in “other revenue,” and provided unrestricted funds for STC.The licensee is a privately held company, Sheppard said, so it doesn’t like to discuss revenue details. At one point, STC had a fairly robust children’s program but it ran into the same issue as the ties, and so the charity “pulled back on a number agreements,” said Kymm Carlson, associate director, retail partnerships and product marketing. Its children’s program ran the gamut, including things such as bedding, home furnishings and toys, but are no longer available in the general market. The market, Carlson said, has seen a significant shift in the market toward promotional children’s properties, Carlson said, with more competition from Disney and Nickelodeon while the retail world has shrunk to just several large entities, like Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart. “It’s become a very competitive market and you need to take a very strategic approach,” she said. While some licenses work out and others are successful and simply run their course, there have been those that just never did work for some reason. “Every once in awhile, you have a license with great intentions and it just doesn’t take off,”Carlson said,pointing to a doll licensee or two that weren’t as successful. NPT (Above) Betty Otter-Nickerson; (Right) For many years, Save The Children used children’s art on ties that it sells. This year the nonprofit unveiled a new line of designs based on geographic regions where it’s involved. works. In addition to collections that will represent Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, STC will have a U.S. collection as well as a special Darfur collection.“It’s less on child-like art and a more design-centric line of product,” said Liz Sheppard, associate vice president for corporate partnerships. The ties debuted at an apparel show JUNE 15, 2008 THE NONPROFIT TIMES www.nptimes.com 7 http://fconline.foundationcenter.org http://fconline.foundationcenter.org http://www.nptimes.com

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The NonProfit Times - June 15, 2008 Fundraising Fizzles For Myanmar And China Complaints Filed Against Grant Institute Nonprofit Styles Aren't Out Of Fashion Contents Lights. Camera. Action. Calendar New Boss At Gates Approaching Businesses Big Isn't Always Better Obama And You 'Always Do Right' New Boss At NCNA Three Networks Will Air $100 Million Cancer Fundraiser NPT Jobs Resource Directory

The NonProfit Times - June 15, 2008

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