Sponsor Information

Want to give customers an extra incentive to shop at your site? Maybe you want to gain more traffic, potential customers, and newsletter subscribers? Or maybe you’d just like more exposure by getting your handcrafted items into people’s hands? Then join the Happily Handmade Giveaway in appreciation of indie shoppers!

What is a Sponsor?

Without our sponsors, this giveaway simply would not be! A sponsor is a shop or business who donates items to be given away in our gift boxes. Sponsors are then able to collect giveaway entries through their website. Sponsors will be listed on this website as well as on every other sponsor’s website – increasing traffic and mailing list subscribers for everyone as entrants visit each sponsor site to enter.

How Do I Become a Sponsor?

Please view the steps to becoming a sponsor on the become a sponsor page. You will need to fill out the application located on the sponsor registration page, pay the registration fee, send in your logo, and mail your donation for the gift boxes.

Do I Have to Have a Website to Be a Sponsor?

Yes. Because part of the appeal of the giveaway are the pages set up on everyone’s website, you are required to have a website to participate. Etsy shops are not acceptable, unless, of course, you have a separate website to go along with your shop. Doesn’t need to be ecommerce, but you need to be able to put the giveaway details and entry information somewhere on your website. If you have a blog such as wordpress or typepad that will allow you to add your own pages to your blog, this is sufficient for accepting entries to the giveaway.

What Should I Donate?

Sponsors typically donate the items that they make/sell. These are full sized items and NOT samples. The value of each item is up to you (typically around $10-$50 per item). We are limiting the quantity of donated items to 20. We are encouraging quality - not quantity - so consider sending fewer, more valuable items. For more information about what you can and cannot send, please visit the donation information page.

How Many Items Should I Donate?

No more than 20 items per sponsor, please! We encourage you to donate fewer, larger items as opposed to many small items.

Are Promo Items Considered Donations?

No, promo items (such as postcards, business cards, buttons, magnets etc.) are not considered donations; however, you may (and we encourage you to do so!) send in up to 25 promo items in addition to your donation. We will include small packets of promos with each gift basket - and yours will be included whether or not you actually have an item in that particular basket.

Can I Send Gift Certificates?

Yes; however, gift certificates may not make up more than 50% of your donation (ie: if you donate 12 items, only 6 of them may be gift certificates).

I’m Running a Little Late! Can I Still Send my Donation?

No. Unfortunately, late donations really impede the entire giveaway process, and though we hate to do it, we will refuse any package that is not received by the deadline. Please note that all donations must be RECEIVED, not mailed by, this date! So please plan ahead and get your donations in on time!

How Can I Promote This Event?

Post it on your website’s homepage. Talk about it in your mailing list. Blog about it. Stumble it. Twitter it. Post it on your Facebook or MySpace. Take advantage of all the publicity social networking has to offer. We will also be providing sponsors with a printable flier file, which you can print and include with every order you ship. Got any other creative promotion ideas? Let us know!

How Many Gift Boxes will be Given Away?

No more than 25. We are limiting the number of prizes simply for our own sanity and to keep the participation costs as low as possible (shipping can get pricey!). And we want to make each box as awesome as possible!

How Many Sponsors will be Participating?

During the Winter 2007 Giveaway, we had 81 sponsors participate, and we’re expecting this next one to be even bigger!

How Should I Collect Entries?

That is completely up to you! All we require is a full name (first and last), mailing address, and a valid email address for each entry. In the past, sponsors have set up entry forms on their site, had entrants email them personally with their information, or sign up for their mailing list. We will be providing templates for sponsors to use to easily set up these pages and forms on their own website.

What Do I Put on my Giveaway Page?

A requirement of being a sponsor is setting up a page on your website for the Happily Handmade Giveaway. We will be sending out a full list of sponsor links (and include a handy dandy code to add it to your site as well!). This list of links must be on your giveaway page. Additionally, you’ll probably want to include a short description of what the giveaway is as well as instructions on how to enter through your site. You will also receive a graphic badge to put on your front page to advertise that you are an official HHG entry site.

Why are Mailing Addresses Required?

Unlike in years past, we are requiring mailing addresses in order to enter the giveaway. In past giveaways, it has taken us weeks to confirm and gather shipping addresses for all the winners. This time, we though, why not get the addresses up front, and not have to deal with the waiting. We advise all sponsors to make it clear on their entry pages that the addresses will only be used to send prizes to winners, and not be sold to the evil junk-mailers.

How Are the Winners Chosen?

Once all sponsors have submitted their individual entry lists, they will will be sorted into a database, and winners will be chosen randomly by the giveaway organizer, Nicole Theis.

Will Each Sponsor Produce a Winner?

Unfortunately, because we are giving away no more than 25 gift baskets (and are expecting way more than 25 sponsors), each sponsor will not produce a winner. We know that part of the fun in the giveaway is congratulating your winners – so we encourage you to do a mini-giveaway of your own if a winner is not selected from your shop. Choose your own winner from your entry list! While they won’t get an official HHG gift basket, they can still receive a very special prize from you!

I Have a Question Not Answered Here…

Ask away! Contact us with your question and we’ll happily answer it!