Glittered Cones - Mickman Brothers Holiday Fundraiser

My Gramma started her wreath business in St Paul during the Great Depression; it helped immensely to sustain their family.  She and my grandpa never worked for anyone, and always earned their living with a string of small businesses.

By the time my brother Mark and I were old enough to work (in the mind of our family) at the ages of about 8 or 9, we were borrowed to Gramma and Grampa to help during the summer in their various businesses. Grampa’s Bleach business (Hydro-Bleach) as well as Gramma’s Wreath Business were the two pursuits we worked at during those years in the 1950's.

What did we do in the Wreath Business during the Summer? Well, painting and glittering pine cones of course. It went like this:

Grampa would get his old 50 gallon drum that had a lid, and bring it to the top of the slope that descended to the lake they lived on, Lake Owasso in Shoreview, MN. Then, Mark and I would dump a bunch of cones from burlap sacks and pour some white paint into the drum. After securing the lid, we would roll the drum down the hill, mainly holding it back so that it didn't roll over us and end up in the lake! On the trip down the slope, the cones would bounce around inside the drum with the paint so all the tips would be painted. When we got the barrel safely to the flat spot just before the lake, we'd stop the drum, pop open the lid and dump the cones on the big sheet of plastic. Gramma would then use a shaker to shake silver glitter onto the cones. Mark and I thought they looked pretty cool! Then, he and I would roll the drum back up the hill to do another batch.
 
In the hot summer sun, the cones would dry rapidly and the four of us would periodically gather them together and put them back into the burlap sacks. Grampa kept the supplies coming and carried the finished cones to the top up the hill. "Boyz-oh-boyz, those cones are heavy" he would say to Mark and me. During those years Gramma made about 5,000 wreaths a year, and wired 5 cones on each wreath - we painted and glittered 25,000 cones each summer!
 
Gramma and Grampa made this project fun and we could easily see the fruits of our labor. When we got too hot we went swimming. When we got too tired we all rested. There was no rush, but Grandma was very picky about the 'look' of each cone. We always did a good job, and although we didn't earn much, my brother Mark and I always had our own money.

Today was one of many 'Pine Cone Painting' days at Mickman Brothers. We do semi-truck load per day with a machine we invented that does a wonderful job. Some years ago I remembered glittering cones with Gramma and experimented with adding that process to our pine cone painting program. Our Wreath Production Supervisor, Berta, came up with a couple of good ideas that helped the process immensely.

So now, all of the Classic Style Wreaths and Sprays you order have white-tipped, glittered cones and they look awesome. To my knowledge, we are the only large wreath company in the nation that adds this, what I think is a great accent, to their pine cones.

All thanks to Gramma. I hope you like them!

John Mickman
President

http://www.mickman.com/fundraising

Fundraising Step 1 - Mickman Brothers Holiday Wreath Fundraiser

If your Fundraising Organization has signed up for our Holiday Fundraiser you may be wondering "Now what?"  Schedule a Fundraising Committee Planning Meeting for your boy scout troop, high school marching band, church youth group, hockey team, or other fundraising group.

Meeting Agenda Guide:

• Determine Group Goals: What is your goal? The Fundraising Tally Spreadsheet is an excellent tool in determining how to attain your goal.
• Determine Selling Prices for Each Product: We recommend a profit of $5-$7 per item (make sure you have included shipping costs and bag costs as well).
• Determine Additional Sales Tools and Accessories Needed: Do you need Door Hanger Notices or Posters?
• Create Sales Packets: Help your members get organized! Have your committee members fill out all the pertinent information on your: Sales Aids; Holiday Gift Order Forms; Tip Sheets; Fundraising Envelopes; Door Hanger Notices; and any other Sales Tool as it applies to the brochure you are using.
• Distribution & Delivery Address for your Shipment: Where will it be convenient for your members to pick up their orders?
• Determine Meeting Dates and Other Major Dates: Fill this information in on Page 2 of your Fundraising Guide located in Tab 1 of your Holiday Fundraising Organizer. This information should also be included on the 'Fundraising Tip Sheet' calendar.

http://www.mickman.com/fundraising

Fundraising Testimonial - High School Gymnastics Team - Wreath Fundraiser

Testimonial submitted by Christy L. of the St Francis Gymnastics Team:

"Flipping Out over Mickman's Fundraiser:

St Francis High School Gymnastics Team

The St Francis High School Gymnastics Team has been selling wreaths through the Mickman's Wreath Fundraiser for over 11 years!  The Mickman's Fundraiser has been the biggest and most important fundraiser for the SFHS Gymnastics Team over the years and is of great importance to the team primarily because it helps to cover the cost of important assistant coaches fees which must be covered by the team and the team's booster club.  The two assistant coaches are critical to the team for two reasons: providing support for safety is a huge component to the sport of gymnastics; in addition they assist the head coach by providing additional coaching.  That ability to provide quality coaching has helped this team to achieve the status of North Suburban Conference Champs six years in a row!  The fundraiser also has helped to provide funding for new leotards for the team.

Working with Mickman's could not be easier!  The fundraiser packets and fundraiser tools and spreadsheets are easy to use and easily accessible by mail or on their website.  We have a customer service representative assigned to our group which ensures we receive special attention and understanding of our order, and the free delivery to our designated distribution site is an amazing service provided by Mickmans!

In addition, for two years now - a local business has used the wreath fundraising program for Christmas gifts to their customers.  Their main customers are Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ruffed Grouse Society, Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Delta Waterfowl and more.  These customers are very 'green' friendly and conservation oriented.  They really enjoy the 'Plant a Tree' program set up by this fundraising program.  The corporate offices of these previously mentioned organizations proudly have their wreaths decorating their spaces and giving a refreshing pine scent.

The Mickman's Fundraiser provides our SFHS Gymnastics Team with a way in which to raise important funds for our team, through an organization that provides a quality product that customer love to receive, with great environmentally friendly features!  It has been, and will continue to be a great fundraising option for our team!"

Congratulations to the St Francis Gymnastics Team on your past accomplishments!  We wish you continued success in all of your fundraising efforts!

Mickman Brothers Holiday Fundraiser
http://www.mickman.com/fundraising

Pine Cone Pickers - Mickman Brothers Holiday Fundraiser

We use over 1,500,000 pine cones on our Christmas wreaths and accents each year.  Have you ever wondered where all the pine cones come from?  Hint: There is no such thing as a Pine Cone Store.

Back in the late 1950's and 1960's our dad, John Victor Mickman, would drive all us boys out to the Black Hills of South Dakota - the closet location to Minnesota where one can find Ponderosa Pine Trees.  Actually, the reason they call them 'The Black Hills' is because when you see them from a distance across the prairie, the profuse quantity of Ponderosa Trees make the Black Hills look black!

My dad had a full time job as an engineer at Honeywell, and he would take his 2 week vacation to bring us out there to get the Ponderosa Pine Cones we needed for the Wreath Business.  It would take most of this time to 'pick' a load of cones in his BIG trailer; he would then take it home to Minnesota and leave us boys in the Black Hills (living in a big army tent) to pick another load (or two) depending on how many we needed.

The first couple of years we did this, dad left just my brother Mark and me out there; the first time we stayed alone we were 10 and 12 respectively.  Mark and I were best friends, but we were also high spirited brothers, and there were many times that we got into fights over one thing or another.  One afternoon we really got into it.  Tempers flared right into the night and we just couldn't get over it; we went to bed still mad at each other.

The next morning I woke up in the tent and immediately felt there was something different happening.  I crawled out of my sleeping bag and looked out the tent's door flap and saw that Mark was up already getting ready to start up the old Coleman Stove to make breakfast.  He was perfectly still and looking out over a small ravine that had a barbed wire fence on the other side.  There, standing still at the edge of the fence was an albino deer and her albino fawn.  They were both looking directly at my brother and me from a distance of not more than 60 feet.  None of the four of us moved for over a minute; we were entranced with the sight; the deer were surprised to see 2 young boys in the middle of nowhere, and my brother and I of the sheer miracle of nature at our doorstep.

After a short time, the two deer effortlessly hopped over the fence and bounded across the field into the woods.  We never saw them again.

After they disappeared, Mark turned to me and asked, "Did you see those deer?" "Yeah," I replied.  "Did you see they were pure white - they almost glowed?" Mark started pumping the stove up again and said, "They were albino deer.  I bet we're the only ones in the whole wide world that have ever seen two albino deer!"  And off our young boy chatter began, the fight from the past afternoon and night forgotten forever.

Two independent young brothers, alone in the wilderness, having to deal with all that life was throwing at us.  We needed a miracle, and it could not have come at a better time.

John Mickman
President

http://www.mickman.com/fundraising

2011 Group Spotlight Winner - New York Cub Scout Pack - Holiday Fundraiser

Congratulations to our 2011 Group Spotlight Winner, New York Cub Scout Pack 173!

Testimonial submitted by Regina M, chairperson of Cub Scout Pack 173:
"Dear Mickman Brothers,

Pack 173 has been associated with Mickman Brothers for the past 3 years.  We read your advertisment in the Scouting magazine and were instantly taken with your affinity for Scouting Organizations.  In the fall of 2008, we contacted you and began working with Susan, one of your account managers, who is just delightful.  Right from the beginning, she explained the easiness of working with you, the sample products, explained the types of programs, and was available for any questions we may have had. 

Our first year we kept it small and made a profit of $700.  The second year, we advertised more aggressively and doubled our profit - $1500!  But it was the return customers, that were actually looking for us as early as September, that was amazing.  This past year, with as many repeat customers and more exposure, we made approximately $2300 profit! 

Pack 173 at a fundraising event!

There is no denying that your wreaths are beautiful and many customers tell us they still have their wreaths up until the beginning of March and they look as great as the day they got them!  The cub scouts and leaders are out there in October selling the wreaths at masses, using your beautiful sample wreaths, in addition to packback meetings at the school and setting up a table at our school/parish craft fair.

On the day of distributions, as you can well imagine, it's all hands on deck and this had now become our largest fundraiser for the Pack.  Additionally, we referred your products to another school in the area who on their first year beat our best year's profits!

With this money (made from the Holiday Fundraiser), our dens are able to fund many activities for our cub scouts - from crafts to trips and a year end carnival!  We so appreciate our relationship with Mickman Brothers and are looking forward to another successful year! 

Sincerely,
Regina M
Boy Scouts of America Pack 173"

Thank you, Regina and Cub Scout Pack 173, for choosing Mickman Brothers Holiday Wreath Fundraiser for the past 3 years!  We wish you continued success and look forward to working with you during the upcoming fundraising season!

http://www.mickman.com/fundraising

The First Christmas Wreath - Mickman Brothers Holiday Fundraiser

So, as my Grandma told the story to me many, many years ago, this is how our family business was borne.

"When I was a young girl in Norge (Norway) back in the late 1800's my mother used to make a wreath each year from evergreens we children would gather from the forest alongside the fjord on which we lived.  It wouldn't take many boughs, and I liked gatheing them.  When I was older, my mother showed me how to make the wreath that we would display on the door of our small cottage each year.  Ours was a tough life and all of my brothers eventually died at sea, as either fisherman or merchant sailors. 

After I met your Grandpa in England in WWI, we moved to America and, because the people in New York told us there were many Norwegians living in Minnesota, we moved to St. Paul.  Our small family had a hard 'go of it' during the Great Depression as did all of our friends.  However, each Christmas I loved making a nice wreath and hanging it on our front door; as it always reminded me of my own mother so many years before.

One year when your father (John Victor Mickman) was about 12 years old, he came home from school and saw my nice wreath on the front door.  He wanted to buy a Christmas present for me, and had an idea that maybe he could sell that wreath down the street to someone.  Well , that is just what he did.  He walked down Summit Avenue where all the rich people lived, until someone purchased his wreath.  (My dad said it was James J. Hill's daughter, founders of the Great Northern Railroad, that purchased this first wreath.)

With his newly earned money, your dad went to a store and purchased a lovely set of porcelain figurines - the set that I have on my bedroom bureau.  The sales clerk was kind enough to wrap this gift for your dad, and he came home and presented it to me.  Well, I knew your dad didn't have ANY money and I pinched his ear until he told me how he got the money to pay for the present.  He finally confessed that he had taken our wreath off of the front door and sold it down on Summit Ave.  I couldn't imagine that anyone would want to pay money for such a thing, and asked your dad if he thought he could sell any more.  He said he thought he could sell as many as I could make.

So, your Grandpa, your dad and I gathered as many boughs as we could and I made wreaths out of all the boughs we could find.  Your dad was able to sell these wreaths as fast as I made them, and he sold every single one - we didn't even have a wreath on our own door that year (of 1934)."

We hope you and your fundraising organization (boy scouts, girls scouts, church youth group, high school marching band, and every other fundraising group) will be as successful as my dad in your wreath selling adventures! 

John Mickman
President
http://www.mickman.com/fundraising

Fundraising Hints: Organizing your Fundraiser - Mickman Brother Christmas Wreath Fundraiser

As the Fundraising Chaiperson, everyone will be looking to you to come up with an organized, well-thought out fundraiser that will run as smooth as possible.  And with a little planning and effort, this is completely the case!

First, set your fundraising goal.  What kind of funds do you need and what are the funds being used for?  Are your boy scouts trying to save up to attend the next National Scout Jamboree?  Does your Swim Team or Hockey Team need extra funds for gear, traveling, or practice time?  Maybe your Church Youth Group really wants to plan a Missions Trip?  Set your goal.  Stick to your goal.  And let your group know what they're working toward.  The reward is all the motivation they need!

Second, sell to meet your goal.  Sounds simple.  It is simple!  How many items does each organization member need to sell for everyone to reach that goal you have set?  Let your group members know what their individual goal is, and most importantly, make it achievable.  Maybe you need to have more than one fundraiser to meet your goal.  That works too!  Just make your efforts attainable or your group members may get discouraged.  Fundraising should be FUN!

Third, set your timeline.  Get your members excited about their goal, let them know how to attain their goal and keep them all enthusiastic for a two to three week window of time.  Short and simple!  The excitement can fade pretty fast, so keep your fundraiser going, get it done and celebrate when your group reaches their goal!

Congratulations!  Your (boy scout, hockey player, church group, etc.) has the means to do a little something extra special this year!  What an achievement!

If you'd like more information about Mickman Brothers Christmas Wreath Fundraiser, please visit our website at your conveneince,
http://www.mickman.com/fundraising

Contributed by Sara Laning