nicurn, Please be careful!!! I heard Zany Brainy filed for Chapter 11. I don't know any details but be aware. We use Zany Brainy $10.00 gift certificates for a reading incentive program we hold in the spring. First, we purchased certificates from another school (for FULL price!) then we gave them to the children who's names were drawn. This was before I became involved. We were spending $500.00 in certificates. After I got thinking about this, I went to Zany Brainy and spoke to the Store Manager. He was fantastic however, his hands were tied. I was looking for certificates at a discount. My reasoning was...No one goes into Zany Brainy and only spends $10.00 therefore it would be in their best interest to generate more business. After the Store Manager called the corporate office, I was advised that I could not receive a discount unless I bought $1,000.00 worth of certificates! (This is too much for our school.) I would have only received a 10% discount. The Store Manager did offer to host "Shop Nights" and gave us the information. I will not say Zany Brainy is out of our next year's planning however, I am sure we will educate ourselves regarding the company's financial status. I would hate to have a "Shop Night" and be told the "check's in the mail". I guess if the money is received immediately that would be a different story. If anyone has any additional information, please let us know. Good Luck!

We have participated in three shopping nights. The first one was two weeks before Christmas. We asked volunteers, parents and schoo staff, to work in half hour shift from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The principal, vice-principal also participated. The volunteers were there to wrap gifts and to "remind" shoppers to support our school when they checked out by stating the name of our school. The first time we recieved $402 plus $50 in "tips". The second shopping night we held the last year was in November. Again we had volunteers to help wrap and our total income was $320. This spring, our Zany Brainy changed the program so that instead of our organization receiving money, the shoppers who said they supported our school received 10%off. The first two times were alot of fun and for the three to four hours we were there it was a great return. The money we received was based up a percent of the purchase of our supporter. Hope this helps.

hi, just wondering if anyone has any experience with the "shop night" at zany brainy's. They are advertising it in our local store, but the manager wasn't available. Any comments on it would be appreciated. Thanks, maggie