FIGHTING FUND FOR DREAMLAND

[David Ellis]

Made a donation last night.

The Campaign continues...let's be positive, and all on here that can spare a few quid, please do.

David.

[EAS]

When it's rebuilt and operational - are you going to ride naked?

[eddiegi686]

Heh that could be a fundraising event..... would certainly attract media attention - always does when an artist gets a load of people to do something nude.

Anyway i was thinking yesterday and realised that there's an easy way to bring funds in from the internet if anyone has seen pre-made web shops that selll items with a personal message on. These are often used by small websites to raise money to pay for server fees, the sites allow anyone to sell t-shirts, jumpers, mugs, wall clocks and stuff like that with a brand or message on, like save dreamland trust or something. The point is these websites handle everything for you, they already have the pages pre-made and the processing of orders and they have the items ready to put your message on and sell, and they send them out, they deliver them. All you do is join, setup your shop and they will take a small commission? out of every sale to run the site. Then you advertise the site by word of mouth and things and if people buy the stuff then money goes straight into your paypal account.

I think this would be an ideal way to get more funds for at least two reasons:

1. Surely a number of people are willing to pay a small fee for a t-shirt advertising the cause.
2. Every item you sell has your message on so others see it and join in.

I really cannot remember any of the sites that did this but i can find out. The ones i've seen only charge as part of the item price so you don't have costs to pay them, it comes out of the sales.

The facebook group now has ~600 members, if 600 people by a £12 t-shirt (i think the prices are less than that by default) then thats a lot of money.

Update:

someone found the website for me:
http://www.cafepress.com/

http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/sell/

[bluea61]

I think thats a great idea. It wouldn't take a great deal to set it up and could bring in some revenue quite easily. I would be willing to lend a hand if required.

[Sarah]

Hello

Just briefly, anyone wanting to make a Paypal donation now needs to make it to:

sarah@savedreamland.co.uk

Thanks folks.

[eddiegi686]

Just to inform people Cafe Press allows you to have a free store that sells products. It seems all prices are in $ though so that could be an issue depending on whether people think its a worthwhile service to offer. They don't seem to use paypal but they will send checks out and you don't have to be in the USA - they'll send checks to and deal with UK Companies / Organisations and they deliver to people in the UK (no idea what the service is like).

Also you have to have an image to add to the products, like a logo saying Save Dreamland or a message on an image i suppose.
I've not heard of a similar store that runs like this for the UK but apparently a lot of people in the UK use it, i know of someone who used it to sell t-shirts and things to fund the running of a website - not sure if it was successful.

Maybe some of the 1000 people who've joined the rebuild facebook group would buy items, i don't know. Just an idea basicly.

[EAS]

The campaign does of course have its own shop - maybe point this out to people on Facebook?

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailway/shop.htm

I don't know how another would fit alongside.

[eddiegi686]

Ah sorry i didn't realise there was a shop, there's no shop link at the top of the savedreamland website and some of the site goes outside the main page as well. Some news items don't have the links on. I noticed books and dvds but i didn't realise there was a shop running from the site (thought it was just information on books about Dreamland and Coasters).

In which case i'll tell people on facebook about that.

Update:
joylandbooks pretty much says it all, but i was unaware of a shop specifically supporting Dreamland or if funding goes from all products, admittedly i didn't actually visit the main page of joylandbooks.com

[EAS]

The link is on the right here:

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailway/

[Susan]

If you look on the opening page of this website there is an index at the right hand side below the 'Join Us' button you will find the Campaign Shop a little way down.

[paul69]

I am more than happy to donate, but feel we should have the total displayed somewhere on the homepage. Is that possible ? i just think it would be fairer for everyone, and can assure you im not disputing anyone..

[Sarah]

Hello

While we sort out the logistics of that, I'm happy to say that I've received £400 in donations this week. Thanks everyone who has emptied their pockets!

This obviously doesn't include any pledges to the Reward fund.

Sarah

[strongbow]

Perhaps an idea that needs work
the likes of disney and other charitys use the buy a brick idea
where donators are listed in a book or their names engraved on a paving slab
perhaps the idea could be used and people donate to buy something where their names are recorded for posterity?

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Just sent a donation, Sarah, with a little extra to cover the PayPal fee.

Step up everyone. Sarah and the boys will do everything they can for the Scenic Railway, and will not squander your donations.
I have complete faith in them.
If you EVER considered sending even just a little something, now's the time.

[eddiegi686]

Well advertising the shop would be a good idea, i'm not sure if i can afford to run a google adwords campaign but that might be useful in advertising for the cause. I've donated a small amount because I'm a student but might be able to donate more in future. I'm starting a paid work placement soon so will have more money.

I was disappointed that the shop only sells one product (t-shirt) is it possible for joylandbooks to donate for all purchases or for more specific products to be added? I know that limits on resources probably prevent this. Some people might prefer to buy something than just donate money.

One good thing is the amount of coverage the Gazette has given to this. Also I read in there that the actor who played Trigger in Only Fools & Horses is a member of the campaign, I wonder if there are popular figures out there who wouldn't mind promoting the cause nationally? Thinking of how Dreamland was once apparently more popular than Alton Towers or second to it you would think that if people saw the state of Margate they'd be compelled to help.

I also think some kind of donation meter would be good, maybe just to show what could be achieved if a certain amount were raised, makes people want to donate more in some cases when they know its being successful. Although i know costs are massive in this case.