Our parent group runs our school spirit store, and it has the kinds of things you describe -- pencils, pencil grips, gel pens, stacking crayons, little notebooks, pattern scissors. We get virtually everything from Oriental Trading Company (and we get money back from them through schoolcash.com).
Our older kids have a Market Day in the spring for money for their trip; they make things -- vases out of jars, bookmarks, all kinds of little things, and the younger kids get to go buy them. Also, they sold cookie mix at christmas time (mason jars with the sugar, flower, baking soda, chips, oatmeal, whatever all measured, with a bow, and instructions for how to make them into cookies).
Is there a rule against no food items? Since the items are sold at lunch time, why not food? School spirit items can end up being expensive since they have to be printed, and a two day a week would mean that it would get old fast (for the parents shelling out the $$$). Can you add books, or art supplies maybe? how about tickets to a monthly raffle item? chances to a "guess how many (candy corn, m&m's jelly beans) are in the jar?"
Our fourth grade sponsors a "school store" two days a week during lunch time at the school. Two or three fourth grade students are the merchants and sell items that currently fall under the category of school supplies i.e. pencils, pens, erasers, folders, etc.
I was wondering if any other schools have school stores and what sorts of things you sell at it.
Our "store" is a lockable, moveable cart that is brought out to the school lobby and students know that Thursdays and Fridays they can go "shop" at the store. Most items are $3 or under. The more expensive items include small staplers, funky hole punches etc.
The purpose for the sales are to help offset the cost of a class trip that these 4th graders will take to an outdoor natures classroom (2 nites and 3 days) during the beginning portion of their 5th grade experience. There are 2-3 fundraisers during their fourth grade year to help with those expenses. At that, and even with the deductions from the fundraisers, each family ends up shelling over about $150 for their child to attend. There are some scholarships funds for families who have financial difficulty.
Back to the question at hand--There are no food items at the school store, and by the end of the year, I know that I myself could strangle whoever sold my son or daughter their 400th-odd eraser or pencil!
What are some ideas you all have to improve the offerings of the school store and infuse some "school spirit" items that wouldn't cost a whole lot of money?
