This past year we went through a company that was just wonderful!! The kids were able to buy for there mom, dad, grandparents, brother or sisters, for a little under $5.00. The parents were very pleased that there kids were not buying junk. If a gift cost us .25 we made the price .50, we NEVER raised our prices more then .50. This company was great to work with. I'd be glad to pass along information on this company if anyone would like to contact them for there school....we plan to use them again this year. The last PTA officers ordered through catalogs and they spent tons for junk (mostly kids toys) that parents hated. This company also sent us a HUGH stocking WITH great gifts to FILL it up and then some, we sold chances on it for $1.00, we made $190.00 All together we made $800.00 Not only did the students shop but teacher and parents too...it was a hugh hit for all!! Sorry so long...Good luck!!
Just a few ideas for "crafty" items, if you can get someone to make them: hairbows, scrunchies (these are particularly easy and require minimal materials), book marks, book covers, and I'm not sure if beanie babies are still popular, but I have seen some cute sleeping bags for them that could be made out of fabric remnants or leftovers from other projects. Perhaps some more ambitious crafters could even make some simple Barbie or American Girl dresses or accessories. You might even get some people to donate materials for some of these items. I guess the key here is to start early in the year for anything that has to be made prior to the day of the event.
So timely. Give us three days and our back-to-school issue will be in the mail and online. Surprise, surprise -- we have a feature story on Holiday Shoppes.
Hope you can wait that long, and I'm sure you'll get plenty of ideas from the Forum in the meantime.
