I started a fundraising business 3 years ago and cover a 400 mile radius. I pride myself on 5 star service. I do not offer a early sign on bonus. But here are the reasons why they offer them. They can schedule fundraisers in the same area to reduce cost for you and them like delivery fees. This is seasonal business so they need to how much additional help they will need for that year. The main thing to look for is what services they offer at the time of the fundraiser. Samples for kids to try at a kick off, Step by step guide on tips to make your fundraiser go smoothly, order tallying, presorted product, personal delivery and incentives. I feel if they give good service they should not have to offer these incentives.
Are you doing the fundraiser to make the most amount of money for your group, or for the best signing bonus? Keep in mind that you are making a decision for all of the families at your school. I am sure that they would prefer a catalog that offers a larger variety of items for them to choose from. Our school was working with one of the gift wrap companies and doing well. We switched to a company that gave every child 2 catalogs. One was full of gift wrap and gifts, the other one offered things you could use around the home and kitchen. Together, they had almost 500 items and the final result was that we increased our retail sales by over 30%. Our PTA was happy that we made more money and our families were pleased with the selection and quality of the items. We had a very successful fundraiser and at no time did anyone ask me "What did you get for a signing bonus?"
The reality behind most of these signing bonuses is that they only cost the company about 20% of the face value they are trying to say they are worth (that's why they aren't offering cash). Don't get caught up in the early signing bonus hype that the sales representative uses to pressure you into making decision
Sorry, I have to disagree. If a company is importing items from China, those orders are due by mid-February, so I doubt any one company has even 25% of their schools signed by then, so ordering imports is a guess at best. As far as cookie dough and other frozen products, the companies who make the items are right here in the USA, so they are not concerned how many schools you have signed up "early" in the spring.
I sincerely believe that most sales reps will offer more, not less, as the signing season wears on. At least that is what I have seen in the last 15 years or so. Everyone gets more desperate as the signing season wears on. That school who always signed early is now thinking twice about which company to use. Just watch the enhanced offers start flying in!
Another reason to wait---there are some companies who have done their "due diligence" and do not put their catalog/brochure together until April, but it is pone great program! So you signed early and missed out on the best catalog in the market! Go ahead an pick some dates early, but there is little reason to choose a company in February or even early March.
Can you ask each company for references in your area and call the contacts at the schools directly?
Ask them how many students participated and how much they raised. Having a number like that would really tell you what companies have the best returns. Make sure to ask if that number is what they made or what was raised overall just to make sure you're talking about the right number.
You can take that opportunity to find out how everything went and how satisfied the schools and parents were with the products, value and delivery. You can ask the fundraising company what they believe you will raise as well. That way you have even more information once you start making the reference calls.
I have a bit of a different take on signing up early. I believe that signing up early helps both the schools and the fundraising company. If schools register early, fundraising companies are better able to order the right amount of product, etc. which leads to happier parents.
Companies will offer less as the year goes on so I don't see any point in putting off deciding once you have done your due diligence and called the references.
Every PTO member within shouting distance! Please listen! Signing up early ONLY benefits the company, not the school. Once they have your "signature", they expect you to wave it at all other companies who come to your door. (Of course, those "contracts" signed early do not legally bind you to any company. No products or catalogs have been ordered for your school, even though they always tell you that if you try to get out of the agreement) They promise the best dates if you decide early, but big deal. i.e. you can decide you want to do a sale on September 15th, and I can guarantee that you can get that date even if you decide in May. By the way, most of the great "deals" are given out in late April and May, not February!
Bonuses look good, but perhaps those bonuses are "hiding" the flaws of the program---high prices, delivery by 3rd party carriers, weak prizes. One hint--call around to other schools and get some reviews on the different companies.
I am a new chairperson to fund-raising so please help me and bear with my lack of knowledge I have been getting all of these catalogs to look at and spoken with several sales reps.We are definitely doing a catalog sale, but I am confused.I have a company that is offering different and has the largest selection of things but they don't give you tons of stuff to sign up early, they have some nice bonuses but not wow gifts. Then there are some companies the catalog is not as good but offer $1000 in free product or electronic items...One even has free passes to an amusement park...but the books is standard another company with a smaller gift book gives you a bit higher profit--but only on giftwrap.
I am so confused. Can you tell me how you decide. I am leaning towards the nicer books---rather than the flashy sign on bonus--some thoughts please with most the deadlines are coming soon. All of the profit margins are about the same, so basically have you decided on the "free gifts" or on the actual look of the catalog and what is offered and if you can tell me why or what tipped your decision making process...all of the reps seem to be nice and I have not heard or read anything bad about any of the companies. Please HELP me if you can with some insight please.I just want to make the right choice and I am kind of doing this alone. The old board just left this for me to decide. Please help.
