you don't need a special license but you do need a tax exempt number. The best and easiest way to find wholesalers is to go to auctions. Exspecially Christmas auction's and explain who you are and what you are looking for. They will normally put you in touch with a wholesaler. This is what I did and the guy sent me staight to the top. We ended up spenind a total of 800.00. The items filled a 8 by 10 storage building. Our Holiday Shoppe starts the 5th of December and runs for that week. I'll let you know how the profits go.
This is my first year as PTO President even though I was involved in years past. They always had a Holiday Shoppe. But the kicker was that they went to Walmart, Dollar Store etc and bought all of the stuff to sell from them. Well this year I convinced them to buy wholesale. It took a 12 hour trip to do so but we have really nice stuff this year. Everything under the sun. Last year they spent 1200.00 more then we have this year and we have better stuff at wholesale prices so that the kids are getting big bargains. I think the thing with the Holiday shops is trying to leave out the middle man so that you make a profit and the kids get a deal.
WE HAVE GIVEN UP ON THIS TYPE OF FUNDRAISER BECUASE I THOUGHT THE TACKY GIFTS ALSO INSULTED THE BUYER----BUT THE LAST YEAR IT WAS DONE IN OUR SCHOOL THERE WAS ONE THING I LOVED. A TABLE WAS SET UP BEHIND THE 'STUFF' FOR SALE AND IT WAS FILLED WITH FRESHLY LAUNDERED STUFFED ANIMALS. THE GROUUP OF VOLUNTEERS HAD GLEENED THOSE KIDS TOY BOXES AND HAD MANY TO CHOOSE FROM. WHEN A CHILD ENTERED THE ROOM AND HAD NO MONEY TO PURCHASE A GIFT THEY WERE QUIETLY INVITED TO THE TABLE TO CHOOSE GIFTS FOR BROTHERS, SISTERS AND MOM AND DAD. THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THEY WOULD HAVE CHOOSEN IF THEY HAD MONEY, BUT I NEVER SAW ONE OF THOSE KIDDOS REFUSE TO PICK SOMETHING OUT FOR THEIR FAMILY. IF YOU LET ON TO THE TEACHERS AND OTHER PARENTS IN YOUR GROUP WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO I KNOW YOU WILL GET TONS OF STUFFED TOYS--I'D EVEN SEND YOU SOME OF MY KIDS---PLEASE TAKE 'EM!!!
We are planning an event entitled THe Christmas Tree. We will have the stage decorated festively and play christmas music as the students come to shop for gifts. the prices will range .50 -5.00. We plan to have white paper bags and yarn pre cut so the children may wrap their own gift.
We thought the art classes could help us decorate the stage with lights and etc. Does anyone have any other ideas that would aid in makeing this a success and fun experience for our students?
We have done Santa's Workshop in the past and the items this particular vendor brought were tacky and expensive. So we really have to work to make everyone understand this time it will be better and more fun.
We will receive 10 percent of the profit but we want it to be an enjoyable experience for the students and faculty so it is definitely not our aim to make it a big fund raiser.
Any ideas to promote this or make it more exciting would be greatly appreciated.
THank YOu
