Benefits to associating eCommerce store with a TeamRaiser event?

Jane Kramer

Greetings!


We're tiptoeing into our first foray in the eCommerce module, and I just realized I can associate a store with TeamRaiser events. We're not actually looking to use eCommerce for fundraising, rather using it for add-on sales for TR participants (but too late to use upsells).


Does associating the store with the TR give me any added benefit (versus using the eCommerce site without association)? I can't find anything that explains what options associating the two gives you, other than additional reporting (intriguing) and the fundraising components (not applicable). E.g., does it add links to the store automatically somewhere? Does it help me attach a purchase to a TR record in some way, by perhaps automagically including a login prompt before purchase? 


Any light anyone can shed is most appreciated. Thanks!


Cheers,

Jane 

Jon Reich

Hi Jane, 


If you're not looking to use it for fundraising, there really isn't much point in associating it. The main reason to do so, is so participants can get fundraising credit (towards their goal and progress meters) from eCommerce purchases by donors... which then of course rolls up to the overall Campaign totals. 


If you're not interested in using eCommerce in this instance for fundraising (or to count towards the TR totals), than you could just have a stand-along Store that isn't associated.


All about how you want the dollars accounted for and reported on. I hope that helps!


Thanks, 


- Jon


 --

Jon Reich * Partner * Cathexis Partners * jon@cathexispartners.com * p.605.377.8147

Ryan O'Keefe

Jon is correct that it's how you want to associate the dollars.


One thing to note, just by associating the ecommerce store to an event isn't enough.  You need to enable a couple of SDPs and EDPs to attribute those gifts back to the event and allow for the Purchase Button to appeard in search results alongside a Donate Now button. 


Also, I would say if you're going to enable ecommerce, it's best to add some customization to the personal and team pages so that donors can choose how they want to donate - whether it's a donation only or a purchase of an item.  The purchase acts as a soft credit to the participant, team or event.

Jane Kramer

Thanks, Ryan and Jon! In that we're not using it for fundraising, we'll leave it out of any TR association. This is what I suspected, and I appreciate the confirmation!


Cheers,

Jane