I like that way too. I noticed that a lot of the catalogs are getting away from $ levels of sales, and moving to number of items sold. I don't think the carrot should have to be there ALL the time, but lets face it, if I were a kid, I'd want them!
I think it's very important, for profit wise, to have incentives with a brochure sale. if you do, you know you get them from the company. Make sure the first thing isn't a pen they all break withing 5 days of use, don't matter what the company is. I also like the accumulative (however that is spelled) prizes. 1-5 you get A, up to 10 items you get A and B, 15 items you get A, B, and C.
Admittedly, yes, that would be part of it, but I also like the idea that the kids get a little reward for trying to do something good. Personally, since the parents are usually really doing the selling, I'd rather given US incentives!
I know to be careful as far as the incentive thing goes, but personally I'm all for them. Actually, since it's really the parent that does the selling, I'd rather give the parents incentives! I met a great woman who does just that; she uses her freebies from a "vendor night" her PTO hosts as the prizes for her parents for all her fundraisers! She siad it's been a big help, and has saved her money.
The Back to School thing was offered by a vendor if we decided to use him--he'd cater the night with goodies baked from the catalog offerings.
ohhh also as far as catalog/brochure sales. It's absolutely amazing what you can get out of the company. They soooooo want you to sign you can wheel and deal some. This year we got 50%, top 3 seller prizes (they only wanted top 1), top teacher prize, all teachers that had 75% and above participate got to pick something out of the catalog, all kids that sold 12 items attended a party (if you had more then one kid in the school it had to be 8 items each), and on top of that we got 2 moonwalks/bouncehouses for our carnival for free. So don't forget to get alllllll you can!