Sorry, no intent meant on Otis would be going out of business. They are huge and school fundraising is just a drop in the bucket to them. As far as our jobs going overseas, that could debated forever! Its too bad that we are in the postion we now face in this country. Nothing is made here anymore. Good or bad, that is where we are.

From their site, Spunkmeyer might be based in Europe but they make some tasty cookies. Plus, as you note, there are a bunch of companies that have failed - I don't have that fear with OS. Also, let's be very realistic about this. I remember when people tried boycotting French companies over airspace issues. People quickly realized all the American jobs they'd be compromising. It's fine to try and support local but it's an international economy and we're only getting more connected - get used to it.

You people assume I am a rep for a company. Unlike many other people who blog on this site, I have never talked about one company. I would think the way some of you gush over one company, you might rep them. Perhaps I am a vendor, or an ex-rep, or maybe I am an art director that reps a couple of fund raising companies. I could just be an informed parent. Does it really matter?

Do prizes make a difference? Yes! My son's school never used prizes with their cookie dough sale. Once they did, their sales went up 50%. As parents, we knock the prizes, but the kids like them.

As in any other business, the sales rep can make all the difference. If a company stops giving their reps a draw, many of them may be forced to look elsewhere. Please remember, 80% of all fund raising takes place in the fall, so that is when most of the rep's income comes in. You might lose a good rep, and how can you stay with them when they no longer work for that company?

I do think local companies for the most part do a better job than national companies. One, they have a vested interest in what happens in their area. If they stub their toe, every school will know. Two, their service in normally much better. What if you receive a late order for cookie dough a day before your delivery. How many national companies can put that order on the truck? Not many, but your local company can probably help you. In addition, you know as well as me, that when you use ANY local company, you are helping your community and your state. More taxes go back to your state, local companies hire local people to work in their company, and many times, companies buy their supplies, trucks, and even products locally. It does hel to stay local. Heck, I think Otis Spunkmyer is not even a US company, but is based in Europe.

The fund raising landscape is littered with the wreckage of national companies that have gone under---Nasco, Henco, Nationwide, Top Ten, IFS, Morely,tThe original Red Apple, and many more. Many other national companies have been sold, resold, scaled back, and are on the brink of having major problems in the future. Why? They were all local companies, but then they all tried to be too big and expand across the country.

We've used Joe Corbi for our cookie dough and pizza fundraiser. Their prize: sell 11 items receive a free tub of cookie dough. It works out fine. The parents are the ones selling so they receive the 'free prize' of an extra cookie tub. Since the company is known for it's pizza they also throw in a free pizza party for a classroom (and even two classrooms) at least our rep does...we have a pizza party for the highest sales and highest participation classrooms. Even without the free pizza from Joe Corbi's we can easily do this for minimal costs through our school cafeteria. We only pay the price per student in the classroom for a normal cafeteria lunch AND we receive the reduced/free lunch amount for those students in the class who qualify. We only receive a final cost from the cafeteria; it's not itemized per child for privacy reasons (of course). Less than $25 to provide a pizza party to an entire class. Our out of pocket costs for 'rewards' are minimal. I don't think you need individual prizes for cookie dough and pizza sales. Having the class competions and the free tub to parents works well for us. We usually have our sale in Feb/Mar and make between $3500-$4500 with ~160 families participating. Around 30% participation which is average for our school. We're happy with the results and our Joe Corbi's rep is great. She gives us extra pizzas to reward our volunteers who come to sort/distribute. A little bribery goes a long way with getting volunteers for the distribution night!

SO funny!! I love all of these comments. I three know that middle aged dad is a fundraising person. But, I do not care if my rep is paid or not or how they are paid. If my rep is good, I will always stay with them. I care about how the program works for my school. We have sold Otis forever, but we are rethinking what we will do. So here is the question I have for the PTO and PTA people out there. Do you think a cookie dough program without prizes will work? Does the prize program for the students make a difference? I am serious about this question, and would love to hear imput.

I too have always known that middleage dad is a salesperson. I do not get a draw, I do not want one. I know if I do a good job, I will earn what I need for my family. Middle aged dad is for sure a rep. I have read all of his (or her) comments, and he says stay local, and on and on and on. I can tell you that things will be changing this next year with very big players. I will not hide that I am a rep, but what I will not do is give information that will sway you in any way. We all know that the local players, are not always the best to go with. Just. please fo you research and keep on thing in mind. The good of the students is always number one. Cookie dough is just that cookie dough. Do what works best for your school, your students, and your families!!!