Fundraising Hints: Finding Volunteers - Mickman Brothers Wreath Fundraiser

You've volunteered to be your Fundraising Chairperson.  You may have even chosen the Fundraiser your Organization wants to do.  Can you handle the entire fundraiser by yourself?  Will anyone be able to help you?  What's the best way to get other parents or organization members to help out? 

Let all volunteers know that they can job-share.  One person can do a good job, but two people can do a fantastic job!  This can encourage those volunteers with a limited time schedule to sign up.  Knowing they can share their responsibilities with another individual will ease their concerns.  However, be sure to keep both volunteers on task and make sure they're communicating amongst each other to keep your timeline running smoothly. 

Organized Fundraisers can draw more volunteers as well.  Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly update emails and/or meetings are crucial to keep all volunteers up to date on important deadlines and more importantly, lets them know how the fundraiser is progressing.  Are your organization members reaching the fundraising goal?  Do you need a meeting to motivate your boy scouts, church members, or other organizational members?  Keeping everyone up to date on how your Fundraiser is progressing keeps them on task and makes it easier for your volunteers to know what's expected of them.

Personally ask volunteer candidates if they can help.  This sounds simple and straight-forward, but it's often overlooked because the Chairperson doesn't want to 'bother' anyone.  When you can speak face-to-face with boy scout or marching band parents, church members, coaching staff or other volunteer candidates, you can answer their questions and show them what this Organization is all about!  Enthusiasm is contagious!

Now you've gathered up your volunteers.  What next?  How do you get your fundraiser organized?  What kind of goals do you set?  Is there a timeline you need to follow?  Right now is the perfect time to gather information and choose your Fall Fundraiser.  It's never too early to get your scouts, cheerleaders, hockey players, youth groups and any other Organization ready to go!

If you'd like more information about Mickman Brothers Holiday Fundraiser, please visit our website at your convenience, http://www.holidayfundraiser.com/

Contributed by Sara Laning

The Christmas Wreath Spring Rite - Mickman Brothers Holiday Fundraiser

Shared by: John Mickman

Back in 1970's, Mickman Brothers was operated out of the small farmstead where my family lived. The old farmhouse had sloping floors, breezy windows, a dark narrow staircase - and lots of love. My wife and I had 4 beautiful children, Heather, Maegen, John Jr. and Mariah - all 2 years apart. The office was behind the barn which was put together around hand-hewn timbers secured with wooden pegs. Our place was pretty cool and life was good.

Starting a new business was a lot of work, but since my office was at home I was able to spend much time with the kids. They all worked in the business as they were growing up and they all learned to enjoy doing a job well done.

Being the oldest, Heather was quite precocious, learned to 'be in charge' early in life and always had a lot of questions. When Heather was 4 years old, the whole family went shopping on Holy Saturday afternoon to pick up groceries for the next day’s Easter Dinner (since I was the oldest brother, all these family gatherings happened at our house).

This particular Holy Saturday was cold and blustery, like many Easters in Minnesota. After many trips from the VW bus into the kitchen with the groceries, I was looking forward to nice cup of hot coffee. But, when I went to close the kitchen door, I saw that Heather was still standing outside in the cold, warmly wrapped in her red & white checkered winter parka with the red beanie at the tip of its pointed hood. Her plump, rosy cheeks were about the same color as the red of her coat and her little red mittens. She was just standing there, looking quite forlorn - like she had just lost her favorite doll.

Her look was gently tugging on my heart-strings; something was wrong and I needed to fix it. "What's wrong honey", I asked as I kneeled down beside her. As she looked at me I noticed a tear in the corner of one eye. "Oh nothing daddy", she replied. "I'm OK."

I looked at the house as she had been looking, and everything seemed to fine to me; the only thing that was a little unusual was that our Christmas Wreath was still on the door. It looked great, still green and full and I had seen no reason to throw it away - being a frugal person that had been trained by parents that had gone through the Great Depression.

"Come on Heather, please tell me what's wrong. I can tell you are worried about something", I asked again. "Well", she replied, "Do you think that maybe the Easter Bunny won't bring us Easter Baskets tonight when he sees the Christmas Wreath on the door?"

I looked at the wreath on the door and I felt a little tear forming in my eyes. With all the problems in the world and with me trying to scratch out a living with our little family business, my daughter helped to bring the really important things back into focus. "Heather", I said as I held her little face between my well worn, calloused hands, "I don't know for sure if that wreath will scare the Easter Bunny away. But, let's not take a chance. You and I are going to take that wreath down right now - just in case. What do you think about that?"

In return, I received a daughter-to-father smile that only dad's get to experience. A smile from way down deep in your daughter’s heart that fills you up like nothing else can. Beaming in this way Heather said, "OK daddy, let’s do it right now". Then, together my daughter Heather and I took that Christmas Wreath down and put it in the garbage can.

So began the John Mickman Family Tradition of displaying our Christmas Wreath on the front door of our home until just before Easter Sunday - just in case it scares the Easter Bunny away.

This plan worked well for almost 30 years. What happened? Well 12 years ago, not long before Easter, a family of wrens built a house in the wreath on our door and started their own family. And now, each Spring the wrens build a nest and raise a family in our Christmas Wreath. All guests to our home think we're a couple of pine cones short of a full wreath, but we have to keep our wreath up well into May each year as the young chicks break open their shells and grow strong enough to fly away.

So now, the Mickman Household displays our Christmas Wreath from November to May - over half the year. Some say it's crazy - right up until the time I tell them the story of my little girl Heather who was worried about the Easter Bunny!

We're busy tying bows!

With Summer winding down, we are going full bore getting ready for the busy Wreath Season. One large task that needs to be accomplished is to tie almost half a million bows - all by hand -- one at a time. This is a skill that takes some time to develop, and I've found that not everyone has the aptitude for it. You may find this video of tying a Victorian Bow interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-umcofwIkI

Each of the Bow Tying Crew Members take great pride in the finished look for each of their bows, as many of them are Wreath Decorators too; they understand that 'a nice bow is the most telling part of a nice wreath'. I'm sure you will agree: the fine bows our crew ties are a testament to the same high values your organization's leaders pass on to your young members!

John S. Mickman

Garden Center is Always Blooming With New Ideas

Mickman Brothers Inc. in Ham Lake has expanded services this year, highlighting its owners' tuned-in timing.

Originally published April 26, 2006

By Sarah McCann, Staff Writer, Star Tribune

A time to plant,
a time to reap,
a time to innovate and expand business.

Chris and John Mickman of Mickman Brothers Inc. nailed that pattern once again this year.

The brothers grew up helping with the family Christmas wreath business in the 1960s, started their own landscaping and irrigation business in 1975 and took charge of the wreath operation soon after.

Mickman Brothers produces about half a million wreaths a year. If a Cub Scout has ever knocked on your door in the winter months, you probably know Mickman wreaths.

Then they added a Garden Center with trees, flowers, pots and tools at their 21-acre property in Ham Lake.

Last year's expansion included a partnership with Hedberg Hardscape Center, which offers materials and services for retaining walls, water features and patios at the Mickman Brothers' site.

This year's growth area is aimed at women, who make up 80 percent of Garden Center customers. New this season is an expanded home decor section in the center, and it's all arranged in a female-friendly atmosphere.

The idea came about after visitors from the American Nursery and Landscape Association noted that men were the decisionmakers for the Garden Center while mostly women were using it. Advice taken.

The Mickmans asked Diane Lee, who grew up across the street from their family and is the former owner of the Round Barn antique and home decorating store in Andover, to head up the effort.

Lee worked on redecorating and selecting new items. "Women really want to get a warm, fun feeling when they're shopping and more of an experience," she said.

The result? Sales are up 40 percent this season.

Leslie LaBonne, who has shopped at Mickman Brothers for about 10 years, is one contributor. "I was amazed when I came in this year and saw how they expanded it. I like that a lot," she said. "They've really grown. They've just added and added and added."

The Mickmans' open ears to feedback, innovative ideas and calculated responses are exactly what keeps the business strong, employees say. In 2005 the business recorded $11 million in gross sales.

Bob Fitch, executive director of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, said, "Both John and Chris are experts at new ideas, creative ideas and the ability to implement those ideas."

John gives some credit to their downtime in winter months.

"I take that time to do a thorough evaluation of our past year's operation and search for ways to enhance the good things and look for ways to deal with the issues we had," he said.

That could mean major business decisions. Or adding classes that now run every Wednesday and Saturday on topics such as growing and cooking with herbs or decorating a beautiful table for wedding showers or July 4th. Or purchases such as the cardboard compactor machine that breaks down loads of cardboard boxes that become profitable when sold for recycling.

"I'm always looking for ways to make things more efficient and easier," John said.

Conservation is a huge part of that for the company, Chris said.

"Our father was a real big role model for us," he said. "He always told us we should be like the Boy Scouts and always leave a place - for instance a campsite - better than when we first got there.

So Mickman Brothers stocks shelves with cutting-edge technology like the new solar landscaping lights that store enough energy to shine throughout the night. The brothers spread the word on the most forest-friendly way to harvest balsam boughs for wreaths. John initiated and garnered support for legislation requiring lawn sprinkler systems to have rain sensors that stop watering during or just after rain. That became state law in 2003.

People who work with the two say they have a passion for conservation, a balance between reflection and action, and enthusiasm best described by John himself.

"They're going to bury me here. This is my hobby," he said. "I like spending Saturdays in May here - I'm not going to be at my house doing my garden; I'm going to be here talking to customers about their gardens."


Copyright 2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

Business Honor Goes to Wreath Makers

Originally published March 19, 2003

By Jim Buchta, Staff Writer, Star Tribune

John and Chris Mickman transformed the wreath-making talents of their Norwegian grandmother into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

In recognition of the brothers' accomplishment, they were named small business people of the year by the Minnesota office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Grandma Mickman made her first wreath in 1934, but her son, John and Chris' father, snuck off with it and sold it to buy her a Christmas present.

Wreath profits have been buying Mickman gifts ever since. The Mickmans are one of the largest wreath manufacturers in the country.

The Mickman brothers also run a Ham Lake garden center, landscaping business, golf driving range and an irrigation business.

Other Minnesota SBA winners are Gae Veit, Ron Wacks, Jan Jordet, Robert Heck, Patricia Mack and Mary Patricia Riebe.

Expanding Landscapes - Brothers' Diverse Business Sprouts Sales

Originally published June 30, 2002

By Dick Youngblood Staff Writer, Star Tribune

With $100 in his pocket, John S. Mickman hitchhiked to Alaska after his graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1972 and wound up laboring on a shrimp boat operating out of Kodiak Island.

Think of him as the adventurous member of the family.

John's younger brother, Chris, remained behind to study forestry and horticulture at the university.

Call him "the idea guy".

There's a reason I've come up with these labels. It seems the Alaska adventure palled a bit after John married and he found himself at sea for months at a time. That meant he missed the birth of one of his children, as well as the first times she walked and talked.

"So I was telling Chris on a vacation back home that I had to find something else to do," John said. That's when the idea guy came up with a concept that grew into a multifaceted Ham Lake enterprise called Mickman Brothers Inc.

"Why don't we start a landscaping business?" Chris suggested. That was 1975, the beginning of a business partnership that yielded $8.4 million in revenue last year.

More to the point of today's seminar, it's a partnership that has exploited the Mickmans' complementary skills and their eye for opportunity to give new meaning to the notion of diversification. Consider:

• Shortly after starting the landscaping business in the basement of their mother's Fridley home, the Mickmans began hearing requests from customers for sprinkler services. And so the irrigation division was born in 1977.

"We thought from the beginning that the more diversified we could get, the better we could react to changes in the economy and the weather," said John, 51.

Sales: $800,000 for landscaping, $1.2 million for irrigation in fiscal 2002 ended Jan. 31.

• On a 21-acre site along Hwy. 65 in Ham Lake, the Mickmans began storing the shrubs and trees used for landscaping. Whereupon, passersby streamed in to try and buy the greenery. Voila! The Mickman Brothers Garden Center opened in 1987 with an old Soo Line caboose as the office.

Why a caboose? "It was an inexpensive way to get into a highly seasonal business," said Chris, 45.

Sales: $1.2 million in 2002.

• Shortly after the garden center opened, the Mickmans got to talking about how to use 10 acres of peat land on the property that were overgrown, unsightly and inappropriate for building.

"Well, it's about the right size for a golf driving range," Chris mused. The result: a range with 45 tees and an instructor armed with video equipment to help analyze wayward swings.

Sales: Two wet springs in a row trimmed sales to about $100,000, down from an earlier peak of $125,000.

If you've been counting, you've figured out that total sales of these enterprises - $3.3 million - are way less than half the Mickman Brothers total cited earlier. That's because the largest contributor to the revenue stream is a business the brothers did not start - although they certainly expanded it from a local into a nationwide enterprise.

We're talking Christmas wreaths sold to nonprofit organizations for fundraising purposes, a business their father, John V. Mickman, started as a sideline to his job as a Honeywell engineer. When he sold the business to his sons in 1977, the Mickmans were assembling and selling maybe 15,000 wreaths a year, all in the Twin Cities.

"Then we figured out that Christmas was celebrated outside of Minnesota, and we were on our way," Chris said.

The upshot: The Mickmans' fundraising division sold upwards of 600,000 wreaths in 49 states in fiscal 2001, generating $5.1 million of revenue.

Because of the wreath venture's success, the Mickmans have focused time and investment on the fundraising division, to the detriment of other parts of the business.

Indeed, because Chris' job of building the wreath business conflicted with his supervision of the landscaping operation, they closed the landscaping office for six years in the 1990s.

And until the spring of 2001, when the Mickmans opened a $2 million expansion that added 17,000 square feet of office and retail space and a 7,000-square-foot greenhouse, the only facilities on the site were a pole barn, a small house, several plastic-covered hoop houses - and that caboose.

Now the brothers are intent on expanding these two enterprises at rates well in excess of the 10 to 12 percent annual rate they've imposed in the past.

Thus, John has broken down the garden center operation to promote efficiency and doubled the promotion budget to 4 percent of sales. His goal: a 30 percent sales increase this year, to nearly $1.6 million.

Meanwhile, Chris has tripled the investment in equipment and people in the landscaping division, including the hiring of an award-winning landscape designer. His goal: tripling sales, to $2.5 million, within five years, including a 15 percent gain this year, to $925,000. They also expect wreath sales to grow 10 percent this year, to $5.6 million.

All of which is the product of as nicely balanced a package of skills as you'll find in any partnership.

Chris, by all accounts, is the creative force, as well as a gifted recruiter of management talent and a hands-on executive who thrives on digging into large, complex projects.

And John is "the meticulous planner," said their banker, Jerry Roehrich, senior vice president at the Highland Bank. "It's not too often you'll find that kind of detailed planning in a company that size."

The result is a company that has never had a down year, despite its seasonal business.



Copyright 2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.