I want to chime in on this subject. I used to work for KB and it is a 1st class organization! GA bought KB for the sales force and a few KB items. (Katydids, Golden Crumbles, etc)I still know alot of those sales people and they were strong-armed into working for GA!! They had non competes with KB and if they were to try and go elsewhere they would find themselves in court. Dont think for a second that this is an instant love affair. People have lost their careers folks, and why, greed! GA will never match up to any Beich employee. I will bet the farm that their fall sales are a disaster too because they wont be able to handle the transition. They wont be able to handle the increase in volume and certainly wont compare service wise. The truth in how all this was handled will come out soon and alot of schools may want to seriously evaluate who they fundraise with. If your group works with GA and youve had success then that is great, but dont anyone, and I mean anyone believe for a second that it is a good thing to try and corner the market, force people from their careers if they dont want to work for you, and shut down a 150+ year old company while pretending to be like KB. This is a very sad thing and the reason the prices in GA brochures is so high is simple, BECAUSE THEY CAN. Wait till they try to buy out everyone???? Then what. Dont believe me? People once thought the world was flat!
Frank is way off and I totally agree with middle aged man. he has done his homework. Sounds like Frank works for KB / GA. Anytime you merge there will be major problems. GA catalog is probably 4th or 5th best in the industry. With seeling points, order forms ease, not to many items, and the best quality out there? I would choose Sally Foster, KB , then the rest. Why do you think GA bought KB? because their catalog is terrible and way over priced and stocked. Our school has done Sally for 5 years now and will never change. Plus they have Entertainment books to fall back on for gifts or another sale. Just by running with Sally you accumulate points and they give the school free gifts. Awesome program. Just my 2 cents but KB/GA will be heading into major problems. Do not let the rep(s) fool you with the merger is going to be better. What else would they say? Think before you sign or run this Fall with KB/GA
middle age dad;142720 wrote: I am looking at their Happy Holidays catalog. Yes, there are 112 items $10 or less, but many of those are $10. They also have 67 items $15.00 or more. As far as magazines, they only offer $20 subscriptions, where most companies offer $10 or $20. Regardless of what you may say, many of their items are offered by other companies at a lower price. Same item. I would like for someone to defend those nut tins that are running $17-$21. How about a serving tray that cost $40! You can go to Target or Wal-Mart and find this type of item for $12 or less. Yes, I know the school makes 50%, but this item could easily sell for $25 and EVERYONE could still make money.
One more think, as one of my PTO members told me--What a waste of paper with this huge 64 page catalog. Great for the environment! Who has time to flip through 64 pages to choose a item or two
Look, I have nothing against GAO, but I think their overall prices are way out of line, their catalogs are a waste of money, and the only reason they bought Katherine Beich was to get a sales force.
And I have nothing against other companies. I am just saying that without a doubt, GA has the nicest catalog and the nicest items. I am sorry if you feel the tin of nuts is over priced. Just by our experience, our parents have never been happier with another fundraiser. Just because there is a $40 item in the catalog doesn't mean you have to buy it. You have a lot of options with this catalog, that's why there are over 200 items in it. You won't like everything, but you will like something.
On another note, their packaging and delivery is also the best we have dealt with.
'Frank' and 'dad' need to take it out to the playground and in the meantime....
Does anyone have any useful info on KB, GA, Sally Foster or any other major fundraiser companies that would give these groups some helpful insight as to what options are available?
Simple "This worked", "This not so much" or "Try looking into this company in your area" would be helpful.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it" - Ferris Bueller
I am looking at their Happy Holidays catalog. Yes, there are 112 items $10 or less, but many of those are $10. They also have 67 items $15.00 or more. As far as magazines, they only offer $20 subscriptions, where most companies offer $10 or $20. Regardless of what you may say, many of their items are offered by other companies at a lower price. Same item. I would like for someone to defend those nut tins that are running $17-$21. How about a serving tray that cost $40! You can go to Target or Wal-Mart and find this type of item for $12 or less. Yes, I know the school makes 50%, but this item could easily sell for $25 and EVERYONE could still make money.
One more think, as one of my PTO members told me--What a waste of paper with this huge 64 page catalog. Great for the environment! Who has time to flip through 64 pages to choose a item or two
Look, I have nothing against GAO, but I think their overall prices are way out of line, their catalogs are a waste of money, and the only reason they bought Katherine Beich was to get a sales force.
