PresidentJim;147482 wrote: but I don't think they are doing anything different as compared to previous years.

I think you answered your own question here PresidentJim! It's easy to settle into a tried and true system with any of our programs and sort of just let them run themselves after a while.

Jewel offers some good suggestions. And momo3 makes a valid point as well regarding the economy and shopping habits.

I haven't been involved with Boxtops for a while now but it seems that there is now just two submission dates per year. ????

Anyway, perhaps a big push with some new ways to get the info out will help get numbers up. Let us know what you try and how it works out!!!

I doubt that is the whole answer. There are tons of General Mills products in a broad spread of price points competitively speaking. While the economy could be causing parents to buy some alternative products, such a dramatic decline can't be explained by just that factor alone....or, maybe, at all. Our school is having its best Box Tops year yet and our area isn't immune to the economic situation. Jim, let us know what you find out.

Maybe in these economic times families are opting to purchase less expensive brands. That would explain why there aren't any labels coming in. Seems like the most logical explaination.

Hmmm.....it could be a few different things.....

Has your school population decreased this year through re-zoning?

Maybe the parents need a "back to basics" tutorial about what Box Tops are, why the school collects Box Tops, and what the money will be used for/has been used for. Even if a school has been part of the Box Tops program forever, there are new parents every year who have to be brought up to speed on the who, what, when, etc.

Maybe parents need a break from the monthly collection to a collection once or twice a year in big "drives" that include contests between the classes or contests between the grades with prizes awarded.

Maybe the message needs to be varied. It can be easy to rely on the basic "Send in your Box Tops!" message. Perhaps the coordinators can start sending parents recipes that use Box Top products (the btfe website conveniently provides new recipes every week).

Send out a "press release" with photos that show the children or the teachers utilizing something that Box Tops money has purchased for the school.

Vary how the message is delivered. If it's always been through take-home flyers, add in email, and signs posted on school property.

(Doubtful) Did the grocery store where most parents in your school shop cut back on the General Mills products they carry?

Lastly, perhaps your current Box Tops coordinators should have a sit-down with the previous coordinators for the last 2-3 years for a trouble-shooting review. Some new ideas/suggestions may come from those most experienced with the program.

And, just like football coaches' talents don't always get to shine their first year with the team/league, it could be that the current coordinators are simply experiencing reactions from something they inherited from previous years.

Just had a meeting last night and received a report from our BoxTop$ co-coordinators and found out that this school year we have only been receiving about 200 total BoxTop$ per month. This as compared to previous years where some classes were bringing in more than 200 themselves. We just received our latest check, which was $1800. Of course the majority of that was from last year's submissions. Just trying to figure out what is going on here...

We did switch coordinators this year, but I don't think they are doing anything different as compared to previous years. And it's not like we're down just a little bit, either. Normally at this point in the school year we would be at around 2500 to 3000 BoxTop$. I asked them to send out a reminder flyer to all families, and we're looking at trying some new promotions. Just confused why we're so down this year...

Anyone else having this problem?

PresidentJim