What perhaps brings Minnesota Canvas’s new hires the most anxiety is what we call “The Field”: The bulk of the day, where our representatives are outside or indoors, signing up everyday people for amazing causes. Obviously, we couldn’t function without this area, as these conversations are what we and our clients depend on.
How It Works:
- Every morning, our reps, in groups of 2-4, are sent out to various locations around the Twin Cities metro. For mall locations, we have kiosks in visible areas with the charity’s logo wrapped. For stores, MN Canvas calls ahead to arrange scheduling for our reps to come in. Typically, our employees post up by the exits, only speaking to customers on their way out, in order to avoid disturbing foot traffic. Outdoors, we set up in legal, public areas with steady foot traffic. For both stores and outside areas, our reps have a table containing relevant literature and sometimes merchandise for the charity, with the brand clearly displayed.
- Our reps are sure to maintain well-kept dress and impeccable hygiene. They are always wearing branded clothing relevant to the non-profit, along with their badges, clearly displaying their name and our corporate title.
- One of the central tenets of our organization is to leave people better than when we found them. We never want to leave someone with a bad taste in their mouth. Our pitch is carefully crafted for each cause to capture attention, inform, and perform the actions needed to get willing people to sign up. It is important to note that we only sign up people who actually want to. As soon as someone gives us two non-buying signs (examples: saying “no,” looking for an excuse, not responding emotionally to the pitch, etc.), we send them away.
- If someone responds to us with negativity and/or hostility, whether it be to the charity or to the reps themselves, our employees are trained to not feed into any of it, and just wish the person a nice day and carry on with ours. Insults or aggression are not part of Minnesota Canvas’s modus operandi.
In conclusion, these systems are in place to ensure only the most professional conduct and appearance at all times. This not only creates a more positive, fulfilling experience for both the reps and the donors but for the client as well. This is how Minnesota Canvas engenders such positive returns.
