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 Through its online auction service, BlueTree strives to make a difference by helping nonprofit organizations, and schools.
Two years ago, BlueTree Marketing Corporation was a start up idea, just short of taking Tlight. BlueTree was the brain child of University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business Graduate, Brian Rechtman. Following graduation in the fall of 2005, Brian Rechtman returned home to South Florida, uncertain of his future. Rechtman knew he wanted to go into business for himself but was unsure of the direction he would take. Just by chance, Rechtman began research on the nonprofit community. Realizing the vast opportunity for improvement in an industry that generates billions of dollars in funding, Rechtman sought out to educate himself on the industry to which he was only moderately familiar. Rechtman soon enlisted the help of fraternity brother and current student, Kiel Chesley. That fall the two launched BlueTreeMarketing.com. The website provides the nonprofit community a unique and personalized fundraising experience that combines proven methods of fundraising with today's technologies. The online auction site was just the beginning of a model that the two set out to create to revolutionize nonprofit and charitable giving. However, the success and effectiveness of the online auction site in generating revenue for nonprofit was pivotal to their business model.
Rechtman stated, "We set out to handle every aspect of the silent and live online auctions for the non-proTit client, from setup and data input, to promotion and technical and live event support." Two or three weeks before a fundraising event, Blue- Tree puts an organization's silent and live auctions on the Internet, thereby increasing typical auction revenues. Not only does this allow organizations to reach all of their members, even those who may not attend the auction event, but it also helps by starting bidding before the event takes place. It creates a buzz and a fundraising "cushion." BlueTree also promotes the auction to philanthropic bidders throughout the U.S. on www.BlueTreeMarketing.com and handles public relations with local media within the organization's market. Rechtman and Chesley adopted all roles of the start-up. The two divvied up tasks in sales, marketing, technical support, public relations, and everything else vital to their operations. "We strove to create an illusion that we were a much larger organization," says Chesley. "I was making almost 50 cold calls each day, corresponding via email with clients throughout the country, occasionally meeting with local clients, and having multiple conversations with Brian. All while living at the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity House at College Park and attending class each day. It was deTinitely a hustle between us both." This past April, Rechtman and Chesley, were Tinalists at the prestigious Cupid's Cup Business Competition. The competition recognizes and awards prize money to top University of Maryland students and/or alumni-run businesses. Today, BlueTree boasts clients such as National Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Cancer, and Darkness to Light, Switchboard of Miami, Historical Museum of Southern Florida, Dyslexia Dreams Foundation, the Bob Beamon Organization for Youth, and multiple schools throughout the nation. Please visit www.BlueTreeMarketing.com to view current auctions or call 305-788-1849 for further information.
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