We hold our gift shop in the afternoon right after school. Parents are required to attend with their children so they are supervised to shop. The vendors we use allow us to return unsold merchandise (I will have to get the co. from my chair). We also ask for volunteers from the middle and high school to run a bake shop. and all funs from that part of our sale go into a money jar to be given to our local fire and rescue squad (started last year for 9/11).

I was wondering if anyone could share some tips regarding holiday shops. This will be our third year doing one and we are still tweaking it. This year we plan to hold it at night instead of during the school day. Some teachers were concerned that there were children whose parents did not send in money. By holding this event at night parents can decide whether they will attend with their child. We will entertain parents while their child shops. Does anyone have any vendors that they can recommend?