Thanks for the info! Out of curiosity which one of the three vendors did you go with that you ended up being disappointed in? We are also having Innisbrook and Red Apple out for a discussion. Has anyone got any feedback on them that could help me? I am getting told about this "guarantee" from Red Apple, but I am not sure... it seems like we have to do stuff for them to get it. I would appreciate info regarding experiences with both of them.
JUSTTHINKIN - If you aren't happy with your current vendor, yes - talk to others. If you aren't happy because of the service you are getting, talk to your own rep and tell them why. If you are disappointed in their product, chances are that won't change. Tell them that you are going to interview others. The sooner you do this the sooner you can book dates with a company and that CAN become a huge issue.
Our group last year interviewed 3 companies, Red Apple, Innisbrook and another whose name I can't recall. We invited each to make a 45 minute presentation to the board and the chairperson of that fundraiser. Each came with examples of their products, opened up a box or two of their candy during the meeting for us to sample, and explained their program including incentives offered such as the percentage kept by the school, prize/promo packages, and what else they could do for us. As a group we then decided what we liked about each of them and asked our first choice of vendors if they could do all that for us. They agreed to almost everything we asked for, but in the end we were very disappointed. We ended up doing a whole lot more work than we were told we would have to do - and after the fact we had poor follow up from the vendor.
What would we do differently? Check references and ask the court of public opinion - otherwise known as the PTOToday discussion forum - what their experiences had been with this particular vendor.
This Kidstuff coupon book sounds great! Could someone please tell me how to get in touch with them? I don't know if it is available here in Florida, but I would be very interested in selling this instead of/along with the entertainment book. Thanks so much!
In response to: "Also, does anyone use the cards with the school logo that give you discounts with certain merchants in your area? How well does that do? Thanks!"
To outnumbered (and anyone else interested): Our music parents booster group sells a card with 15 local merchants on it for $6 each. We pay around $1.00 for them, solicit the merchants ourselves and so make a $5.00 profit. It's good for one year and so can be used mulitple times. Some of the offers are Burger King - 10% off, Holiday Hair, haircuts $2.00 off, Local pizza place $1.00 off 2 large pizzas, etc. We've been doing it so long now that when we have a booth at our community festival people come to us to buy them. My neighbor has a business that we work through and I'd be happy to share his e-mail privately. The first year setting up the card and soliciting businesses is the hardest. We did have a professional fundraiser do it at first but realized he was making more profit then us and that we could do it ourselves. oh, we also have the businesses pay $25 for being on the card and that pays for the set-up fee.
We did E-Books this year and made about $1000 (350 students). When we didn't sell them, parents told us they were buying them from other schools. We promote them as "only for those parents who are interested. This is not for soliciting friends and neighbors." We also give it to the parents at Registration, not to the kids. They have to sign for it, or reject it. We eliminated the prizes and gave each child a pinwheel with a note reminding them to turn in their unpurchased books. That eliminated the pressure of competition for prizes.
I think the program depends highly on the local Representative. He/she acquires the local business who participate and services the programs. WE've had no problems and make it available to those who like it without pushing it on those who aren't interested.
The monthly $5 Winn Dixie coupons more than pay for the $20 cost.
