"We have raised as much this year to date as we have in prior years - but it has taken a lot more work and effort than the results can justify. The entire effort hinges on parents getting involved - and although our volunteerism is way up - most of these people can't, won't or have no idea how to manage the process, so they sit around waiting to be told what to do - this translates to a plan, a couple of thinkers, and a lack of any real effort to accomplish on the part of most."
That sums it all up in a nutshell. Same problem everywhere the parents don't want the brochure sale but are not willing to step up if I was to change things around. In the beginning all I was doing was brainstorming of what I could do to replace it and the only thing is multiple fundraisers which needs a huge amt of volunteers. After thinking about this for a long time I've just accepted the fact that there is nothing I can do and my hands are tied. Until the parents decide to step up for me I can't really step up for them.
Dave I am looking forward to see what you have to say in your editoral! [img]smile.gif[/img]
This goes to a fundmental issue with me as Tim and others here can testify too.
How to get rid of the back pack express where we use our kids as sales staff. The complaint we hear the most! "I don't like those things, do something different." "I am tired of having my kids come home with this stuff."
This year we have been expermenting with a number of different ideas. The first half of the school year we have not done any back pack expresses from the PTO (The school district has mandated the schools do a couple of them - neither of which did well at all).
Now with experience behind me to work from I am of totally mixed feelings. We have the complaint but the options dont seem to work all that well either. Like Tim once pointed out, what organization wants to give up that 20K or so, to do a series of 3Ks. They are a lot more work and effort! But they do address the chief complaint.
We have raised as much this year to date as we have in prior years - but it has taken a lot more work and effort than the results can justify. The entire effort hinges on parents getting involved - and although our volunteerism is way up - most of these people can't, won't or have no idea how to manage the process, so they sit around waiting to be told what to do - this translates to a plan, a couple of thinkers, and a lack of any real effort to accomplish on the part of most.
As a prime example - our recently closed Holiday store has grossed more than any other in the history of the school - but only a fraction of the potential! This was the most advertised activity imaginable by an elementary school, with print media, radio and TV. But that was not the key factor to success on the advertising arena - what was word of mouth. Parents handing out flyers, telling co workers, church groups - any assembly of people! All we asked of parents was for them to talk to other, play the week up! This failed completely! Oh there were examples of where it succeeded a few people got into it - but with the numbers involved - it failed. As an example to this our school has a huge number of military families (Air Force mostly, with some Army and Marines and even one Navy). Santa in Blues is the AF's equal to the Toys for Tots - but the differance is they adopt a child that they then directly buy for - what better place to shop for them then us! We are less than the stores, no sales tax, and I can get an order on harder to find items in 24 hours. All that was needed was the people invloved to tell others doing the buying where to shop.
I wont bore you all with more details I think you get the idea - now back to the point.
Parents complain about these in the box fund raisers, but they dont seem willing to support the out of the box raisers that can elimate the need for them. My editorial in next months issue of our paper will be about this. I will post it here after the new year. It could be that I am not dealing with enough time to have this taken hold but if after 5 months we are not seeing results, then I have to conclude that the noise people are making is exactly that noise - something to complain about because they like to complain. This may seem harsh - but the data seems to date to support it. Maybe the next few months will prove different, but given the track record I am not so sure.
So in the box fund raiser, even if you are hearing a lot of complaints? It is your choice, but they seem to be the ones they support and participate in, even if they do complain about it.
We typically have two fundraisers a year... the first is vital to the organization, while the second fills late year requests and gets us going for the next school year. We go with catalogue sales for the first one, but then always opt for something different on the second fundraiser since it is not necessarily a "make or break" situation. Last year's choice was rather risky and quite honestly, a flop. I would hate to think what would have happened had that fundraiser taken place at the first of the year. Good luck!
Thanks for your advice. I sat down with about 10 people just to get their opinions and ideas and we decided it was an idea not worth the work and being it would be a first time we would have no idea of how much we could bring in and wasn't worth the risk. Basically the parents against it will just have to get over it. Thanks again for your thoughts. I love this board.
Sometimes just a new company with a new catalog is enough to ease the boredom. Our school had used Red Apple for years and years and years and years (and so on...lol...). Each year there was a decline in sales, partly because the stuff was pretty much the same stuff each year. We changed to Fiesta! and each year they have an almost entirely new catalog of items. I think that can make a huge difference for your group. One thing you could try is this: Start shopping for a new vendor now. Find out if you can help select items for the catalog. There are all kinds of vendors out there, and if you do your homework, you should be able to find one that can customize a catalog for your school.
However, I'm with Rockne on doing it completely by yourself. I know that our vendor pays all freight (check freight costs on anything and you'll see that just this one area is a money nightmare), sends all items to us ready to go home (the brochures, the order forms, the sold items are packed by student and then boxed by teacher so that all we have to do is deliver it to the classroom). Everything is done for us and we still get 50% (or better) on each item sold. We never pay for anything we don't sell. There is no guess work in trying to figure out what will sell and how much to sell it for.
I say stick with your catalog, but try a new vendor. There are an awful lot of groups who don't make anywhere near 24K all year, much less with just one boring catalog sale. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...lol...
I'd tread very carefully here, especially if that 24k is key for you.
I think you may be underestimating the complexity behind making a brochure sale work really well. To name just a few things:
1. Design of the brochure. Makes a huge difference in sales. Science goes into it, science that helps increase your profits.
2. Orders. Order forms, making them understandable and easily useable.
3. Delivery. Having products on time. Having those products sorted correctly (best companies will sort for you). Return policies for defective merchandise.
...And so much more. If I had to wager, I'd say you guys would make much, much less than $10,000 the do-it-yourself way.
The best fundraising companies have been in the business for decades and what they've learned over those years has a lot to do with your success.
