We did the cards at our elementary school and it went HORRIBLE!! The idea sounded so great to us, especially with the bad economy, but we really promoted them and they did not sell well AT ALL. Be forewarned! We went from 14K in profit money to just over 1K ... and that was with a lot of effort and hard work.
We have decided to do it on our own, without a company. I was hoping to be able to make the cards for $1.00 or less and sell them for the usual $10.00. The printer in our area will print business card size cards 1000 for $86.00. That is full color, like a photo, and laminated on both sizes. I was amazed! I found a sample "merchant agreement" online(easyfundrasingideas.com). We are going to have the agreements printed (2 piece) and contact businesses in our area. I am going to have the printer print 2 piece order forms, also. We are thinking of offering 1 free card to anyone who sells 5.
I already have about 10 people I am going to approach. My boss is going to do $10 off a service call (A/C company), I know a drycleaner and a tire guy. Then the regular food ones that most do. I wanted to be able to show that anyone with any lifestyle can use it. I will let you know how it goes!
We're trying to do these in the fall as well. Not to replace the catalog fundraiser, though--just a new idea to try out with the parents at the open house and back to school nights. A couple of sports leagues in our area have been successful with them. One used a fundraising card company, the other just did them on their own. I think we are going to do them on our own--just print on colored paper, and you can buy card lamination kits at Wal-Mart pretty inexpensively. With a school of 1200 kids, we're going to be thrilled if we can sell 300 of them. Typically what's worked well here is to have businesses (dry cleaners, restaurants, car washes) agree to give people a 10% discount when they show the card, and the card is good for at least a year, most of them are for 18 months.
there alot of work for not alot of return. Bad grammer sorry! But that's basically what it come down to. You really have to push and sell those cards.
Cindy<br />
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<br>"People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse the privelege."
... and that was with a lot of effort and hard work. 
