We do do this type of fundraiser in the half hour preceding a General Meeting and it usually makes $200 - $300 with only three vendors participating. The biggest issue is when you have several members who are demonstrators for the same company. They must all be invited to participate and accept the competition. We time this at the meeting where people turn their forms in for the following year and pay a $15 registration fee so they already have their checkbooks. By the way our meetings have mandatory attendance so we have about 60 - 80 families in attendance.
Note: We usually work very hard to encourage dads to participate so we would never have a fundraisier called 'Ladies Night Out'.
How did some of you serve wine if it was at the school?
Or did you go somewhere else...
I'd like to do a ladies shopping night-- or a Night out-- or a ladies night, with chinese auction or silent and live auction-- with appetizers and wine tasting, but I don't think we can have this at the school-- so this would be a public event somewhere where we pre-sell tickets to come out... maybe at a local hotel or hall. --- I also am interested in running a Health Fair expo-- has anyone done that?
We did this last year. We called it "Market Place", though I think we would try to change the name if we do it again this year.
We invited over twenty vendors of different sorts. I'll look up and list them in a minute...
We came up with a minimum or more charge, meaning $25 or 10% of the sales, whichever was greater, plus 10% from any sales of any booked home events.
Many also donated something, so we had free raffles. We also provided PTO volunteer childcare at the event.
Here's the list of vendors:
Luxe
UndecoverWear
Creative Memories
Partylite
Traveling Vineyard (no tasting allowed on school property)
Pampered Chef
Testefully Simple
Tupperware
Silpada Designs
Avon
Longaberger
Angela Moore
Stampin Up!
Tomboy Tools
Dream Dinners
Mary Kay
Arbonne
Usborne Books
and some others...
We provided each their own table located in the cafeteria/auditorium. We took care of the flyers, articles, etc.
In fact, here's the fact sheet that my committee chair was working from:
Hill-Roberts Market Place
Vendor Proposal
Date: Friday, April 13, 2007
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: Hill-Roberts Elementary School
Roy Ave., South Attleboro, MA 02703
Contact: **** ***** H: 508-***-**** C: 508-***-**** *******@comcast.net
Supplied: Announcements sent home with kids
Article in local newspaper
Local TV Channel coverage
Typical turn out rate- over 250 people
Raffles throughout the night
1- 4' Round Table
Bake Sale
Free Child Care
Blue Table Cloth
Clear frame for raffle sign
PTO Benefits: Table Fee $25.00 or 10% of sales which ever is greater
5 – 10% of sales from parties booked at event up until June 13th
1 Raffle Item
Vendor Details: 1.Pay & Take, Orders
2. Ability to accept cash, check & credit card - Have a sign clearly stating payment options
3. Orders shipped to vendor separated by consultant and clearly marked can be dropped off at school for gift wrap and distribution
4. Mark on sales receipt child or family name affiliated with the school when possible and if gift wrapping is required
5. Book Parties
6. Accept donations for wrapping for orders placed – CASH ONLY
7. Special requests need to be submitted upon receipt of this email
8. 81/2 x 11 vertical raffle sign to go with item stating a brief description and retail value
9. Allow for additional shopping time for volunteers and vendors up to 1 hour after the event closes
10. Review summary sheet and get copy from PTO Rep before leaving
11. Contact **** ***** when orders are received and will be brought to the school
If you need anything else, please post and I'll see what I can dig up.
My organization is planning an event identical to the one you are describing. same thoughts as far as vendors, we thought about just charging a booth fee of $50 and then charging $5 entry fee to guests. Same types of vendors: Home party reps, local businesses, restaurants, gift shops, etc. Keeping it simple with appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. Maybe a fashion show. We are shooting for a Friday evening. Not advertising the event, sending out personalized invitations to a friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc - so if we totally screw it up - those people will still love us!!! I will follow this post for any other ideas! Good luck!
