We don't sell toys at our store, but some of the school supplies these days are toy-like. EArly in the year we stock up on pens, pencils, erasers and marble composition books, etc. They REALLY go fast and we actually had to reorder 3 times with that stuff. Then there is the regular novelty school items that sell throughout the year.
We use US School Supply and one other company I can't think of. We price to break even--not to make a profit. The kids love just coming up and buying something on their own.

Hey,

Actually, if you need advice I think Geddes has a manual available on their website (www.raymondgeddes.com).

We do ours every other week during lunch. I have found that Max Cowen is probably the best deal for supplies such as pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons. They carry Bic and Crayola as well as less expensive brands. They also have a clearence section, special deals, discounts on volume and free shipping. Also, I just sent in a huge order and payment is deferred until Sept.

As far as paper, binders and composition books, we hit Staples in August when looseleaf is 3/$1 and binders are $.68. I talked to the manager and he makes sure that he puts stuff aside for us. There is really not much that costs over $1 at our store.

This is the first year that we have turned the store sales over to our 5th & 6th grades with a parent advisor. Next year, they are going to do everything. Inventory, sales, management, cash reconciliation and audits. We have a wonderful 5th grade teacher who is coordinating the "corporation" and children must keep up their average to participate.

The best part that I saw this year was the way the older kids help the little ones with handfuls of change.

We also send around the catalog to every teacher and they mae=rk down specific things that they require for their classes and we try to have it in stock. The first 3 days of school, we open the store after school for parents and kids. (I got my 10th grader just about everything he needed for about $8 this past year.) Hope this helps!

S [img]smile.gif[/img]

What kind of stuff do you sell at your school store? I am clueless on this? Do you only take cash? How often are you open? This sounds like a good project for the Student Council...
Shelly

We use a big wooden cart on wheels for our school store. Someone's husband made it for us two years ago. We've been getting a lot of stuff at oriental trading . I hate the quality of the pens though and am looking to buy elsewhere.

A hot seller for us this year has been those rubber wristbands. We've been getting them at bands for freedom, but they seem a little pricey. I'd love to get some with the school name on them .

We open our store once a week for each dismissal time.

We're lucky in that we have a PTO office and we run our school store out of it 2 mornings a week. I use U.S. School Supply a lot, we don't mark things up and just display everything in baskets or containers the stuff comes in. The kids love it.