TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › The Cat Lounge › What would you love to have as prizes for contests?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What would you love to have as prizes for contests?

post #1 of 14
11/27/11 at 9:39am
Thread Starter 

I would love to start rolling out some contests on the site, on a more regular basis. Hopefully, we'll be able to have some really cool prizes for them, maybe even by sponsors. I'd love to get some preliminary feedback from members about what would be attractive prizes for us cat lovers. A cool cat tree? a collection of plush catnip toys for your furbabies? gift certificates for Petsmart or Amazon? books about cats? cash prizes? donations made in your name to cat shelters/charities? TCS teeshirts/shirts/mugs?

 

Let me know what will make YOU invest time and energy into a contest, and spread the news around the web! What prize would make a TCS contest really really cool?

 

I'd like to start with some brainstorming, and maybe follow up with a poll.

 

Thanks in advance for your time!

 

ETA - this one has no prizes, but if you care to do a nice festive Caption This - check out this thread!

Reply
post #2 of 14
11/27/11 at 10:30am

I really like the idea of the gifts being donations to the winner's local shelter. Maybe a banner by the winner's username on TCS would be fun, too. 

 

Gift certificates for stores might be tricky for international members who don't have those stores around.  Online stores would be okay, but international shipping costs can really add up. I order from the 'net all the time (shopping on the island is terrible) but I have to be really careful about the added costs just to get the item here, sometimes taxes, shipping, and duty would come to 50-100% of the cost of the items.

 

Kitty treats, toys, product samples would be fun as prizes as long as the package is marked "gift" - so there's no duty charges. 

 

Or you could let the winner(s) pick from a range of prizes. biggthumpup.gif

Reply
post #3 of 14
11/27/11 at 7:06pm
LOVE the idea of donations - of sponsor's stuff - or gift certificates - being made to a shelter/rescue of the winner's choice!!!!
Reply
post #4 of 14
11/28/11 at 3:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anne View Post

I would love to start rolling out some contests on the site, on a more regular basis. Hopefully, we'll be able to have some really cool prizes for them, maybe even by sponsors. I'd love to get some preliminary feedback from members about what would be attractive prizes for us cat lovers. A cool cat tree? a collection of plush catnip toys for your furbabies? gift certificates for Petsmart or Amazon? books about cats? cash prizes? donations made in your name to cat shelters/charities? TCS teeshirts/shirts/mugs?

Let me know what will make YOU invest time and energy into a contest, and spread the news around the web! What prize would make a TCS contest really really cool?

I'd like to start with some brainstorming, and maybe follow up with a poll.

Thanks in advance for your time!

ETA - this one has no prizes, but if you care to do a nice festive Caption This - check out this thread!

All of those sounds like fantastic ideas Anne! If there were a few options for prizes and the winners could choose, I think that would be awesome. Either that or you have different prizes for each contest. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Reply
post #5 of 14
11/28/11 at 4:40pm

Those prizes sound awesome! I like the idea of donating to a favorite shelter but the winner should be given the option. I know the shelters need donations but with my crew I sometimes feel like I'm running a shelter myself! lol. Anything for the cats would be great as would TCS merchandise. I know we have a few  members who do crafts and have online shops so items made by people for the site would be a great prize too! 

Reply
post #6 of 14
11/28/11 at 9:07pm
Thread Starter 

Great feedback, do keep it coming!

 

Swampwitch, being "overseas" myself, I am all too familiar with that issue... you're right, it is something to be addressed. I know some sites just declare that contests are limited to US residents, and sometimes even the lower 48 states, but I wouldn't want to do that here. I think in the case of overseas winners, we will provide the option to get a monetary equivalent by Paypal or, if that doesn't work either, a donation in their name. We'll work with these winners individually to find the best solution.

 

I really like the idea of buying the prizes from shops run by members here - thanks for that! Also, yes, I think variety is important, so I wouldn't want to repeat prizes too often.

Reply
post #7 of 14
11/29/11 at 2:26am

I think ll the prize ideas are great, could maybe alternate them so it would be a different prize each contest to see which one/s works best?

Reply
post #8 of 14
11/29/11 at 5:21am

Contests with prizes is a wonderful idea! I like being able to contribute/donate to a favorite shelter who could really use the items. And as calico2222 mentioned, sometimes it would really be nice just to treat our own furkids, too.

 

SwampWitch, I was involved in a Secret Santa many years ago and my person was in Canada. She told the Santa-in-charge to make sure her packages were marked as "Gifts" so that she didn't have to pay any duty charges and that's what I did. But then it all got messed up anyway. She eventually received her packages, but I had to send her money so that she could pick the packages up. It was really weird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #9 of 14
11/29/11 at 5:46am

I really love the idea of a donation to the members local shelter. I have one here, that has been through SO much in the past few years. It's a great place, and any time I want to enjoy some snuggles, I can go there and play with some cats that need some love. To give to them, would be wonderful.

 

I think most members here don't need an actual material item, since we are all huge animal lovers, and would all give if we could. I know I'd participate completely, for shelter animals!

Reply
post #10 of 14
11/29/11 at 6:24am

Those are all great.

 

What about free advertising space for x amount of time as one of the options?

Reply
post #11 of 14
11/29/11 at 3:59pm

I must confess!  I love prizes!  heartpump.gif  They all sound good to me. 

 

Addendum:  I just thought of something that would be nice for those of us who don't have it - what about a six month or year's paid subscription to TCS?  It's something I've always wanted but can't afford the extra right now.


Edited by nurseangel - 11/29/11 at 6:12pm
Reply
post #12 of 14
11/29/11 at 10:05pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by nurseangel View Post

I must confess!  I love prizes!  heartpump.gif  They all sound good to me. 

 

Addendum:  I just thought of something that would be nice for those of us who don't have it - what about a six month or year's paid subscription to TCS?  It's something I've always wanted but can't afford the extra right now.



Good call there! And I'm sure if the winner already has a subscription they would be able to gift it to someone of their choice. It could be a nice bonus prize, so to speak.

Reply
post #13 of 14
11/30/11 at 4:22am

Subscription is great prize! I am awaiting more contests now!

Reply
post #14 of 14
11/30/11 at 8:28pm
Wonderful and fun idea, having contests and gifts for the winners clap.gifclap.gif I like the idea of having a choice if you win. Gift certificates, subscriptions to TCS, kitty toys, kitty treats, cat books, subscriptions to Cat Fancy for a year, and of course, being able to donate your winnings to your local rescue clap.gif
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: The Cat Lounge
TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › The Cat Lounge › What would you love to have as prizes for contests?