I remember when the mom and pops in my home town would purchase spots in the yearbook to help with the cost of printing and advertising for them. As a matter of fun fact, I was looking at one book the other night (showing my husband a picture of a former boyfriend ) and noticed ads from a few places that were no longer in business.
I do agree with you how they were really gettign alot for nothing in their case! You have to admit though, it a great idea---if you need free advertising!

I agree with you also. I must say I sure wish we had "business partners" WE do have local mom and pop shops that help us out once in a while with donations for Fall Festival. Sure would like a corp. help us get a new school sign. Good luck!

I agree with your comments. Tho I cant give you much help, but thought I would at least suggest that you have "guidelines" for next year. For example, with $100 donation, you get mentioned 4x in our newsletter. Or whatever--just write it down. If you set the rules, have them in writing then maybe there wont be so many questions or problems. What if they were to "sponsor" individual events and have their name displayed only during that event??
Again, I agree with you...Good luck,
Lisa @ Tx

This is an issue that I have butted heads with other members about. We have numerous companies, both local and national, signed up as "business partners" for our "Partners in Education" program. A couple of years ago, our school was trying to get a state award which required business involvement. Everyone wanted to sign up as many businesses as possible, but I questioned what we were actually doing.

Most of these businesses were simply using our school to distribute coupons (buy-one-get-one, or less often, a free item with no strings). These were used as rewards for various things. Other businesses gave us a one time donation (maybe $50 -- 100), for which we were then thanking them in every monthly newsletter (we were listing our "business partners" with strong encouragement to patronize them). Some businesses give us a percentage of sales if we go on a certain day/night and mention our school's name -- a classic marketing strategy that benefits the business probably more than the school. We even had a business "partner" in an auto dealer who promised $100 to anyone who bought a car and mentioned our school's name (we never got a cent, but thanked them profusely in each newsletter).

I have always thought business sponsors should be more involved with the school, such as allowing employees to take time to volunteer at the school or lending their expertise. For example, the car dealer could have helped set up child-seat safety inspections; or a plant nursery could work up a detailed landscape plan for us to follow. I doubt some of our so-called business partners could even find our school on the map!

Also, several of the previous Board members, including former presidents, have their own or their spouse's companies listed as "business partners." In at least one case, the husband works for a well-known multi-national company and I am quite sure he made an individual dontaion and listed his company as the "partner."

Recently we published a school cookbook. I think our business partners should be approached about setting up a display to sell it to their employees or customers. Heck, we do enough marketing for them; they should be willing to do some for us. But some people seem to think this would be asking too much. They also think it would be asking too much for the businesses to buy ads in the play program and yearbook.

IMHO, I think a so-called "business partnership" should be for the PRIMARY benefit of the school, not the business. Certainly if a business makes a donation of goods or money, they should be thanked (preferable by notes written by the children). But I question whether a one-time donation is really a "partnership," and I feel strongly that a business that uses us as a marketing tool is not a partner.

OK, my rant is over, lol! Anybody else have positive or negative experiences with business partners? How do you handle them? And what about the sticky situation of Board members who want to be "business partners?" Thanks for your thoughts!