Try these things. Do you have a auction house in your area? If so go or call them and find out if they have dealers who come in and sell new stuff. Most do. Tell them what you are wanting and if they could please tell you how to come into contact with the people who sell at their auction house/barn. If you don't call a local auctioneer and ask him where they have wholesale auctions at. There should be one close enough for you guys to attend. Drop me a email and let me know where you are. I can tell you where the wholesale places around the midwest are. You might also do a search and put in auctions wholesale and see what comes up. The whole issue is buying at a low enough cost. Last year we did birdhouses, Big glass bears (which we paid 4.90 for and sold for $10.00)Large dream catchers, teacher things like wooden apples, candles that where apples etc., serving trays etc. On a 1200.00 investment you should be able to turn a minimum of $5000.00. If really depends on what prices you want. We had 50 cents to $20.00. We did buy alot of Nascar items that where sold before the Holiday Shop even opened. (The teachers went nuts this past year and bought ton's of stuff from us). If I can help you let me know
hi dottie, I would love to pick your brain on the santa shop thing! We lost money last year, partly because it really wasn't well advertised and also because they tried to do to much other stuff. This year we are just doing breakfast with santa and the holiday shop. What kind of stuff sells well? How do I find wholesale dealers? Thanks so much for all your advice, help, etc! Maggie
I think the first thing you need to look at is do you want to make a profit or just break even.
Our Holiday shop made a several thousand dollars last year. We purchased everything (and by everything I mean wrapping paper, items that ranged from toys, tools, knicknacks, school stuff, T-shirts etc) wholesale. I don't know where you live at but for us it meant driving 4 hours to buy the stuff. This was the first year that we actually had parents and children that said WOW I can't believe that we you guys had nice stuff and it wasnt junk. We searched around and had a donated Santa so that didnt cost anything we had a parent take the pictures so we only had to purchase the film. The main thing is that we try to have everything bought and in our storage shed by the 1st weekend in Novemember. This allows us to get the best that we can buy without it allready being picked over. If you wait until after Thanksgiving you get alot of picked over stuff. We also kept the cost of the present low. We were able to purchase decorated birdhouses for 1.40 each. These went fast. But key is wholesale. One place to start looking for a wholesaler is to contact a auction house explain what you are needing and find out if any of their saler's sell new stuff. If so ask them to get you in contact with them. I have found that they literally can not help you enough when it comes to the kids at school. Good luck and if I can help just let me know.
Santa shop!! We did this until last year. We did a workshop where all the kids made different presents for loved ones. These crafts included counting and measuring pieces to go along with acedemic. We spent almost the same amount on students as we did in the past. We are just a small school about 110 students. (we gave each child in school $ 3.00 to shop) Most families gave them more. We also wrapped the presents for each child. I personally did not like the idea of changing to the workshop, but my son who is 7 really loved the idea of making presents. (He felt more in control of what he gae us.) Our teachers did the workshops with parent helpers. We usually used The Dollar Tree. Call now, to make reservations with what ever place you choose. You will need some help to do shopping. Just pick your categories. Mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, siblings, etc. then pick anything you think they would like. Take your child and look around the store first. Then ask there opinion on what they would buy for someone.
OUR PTO SPONSORS THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING. WE PURCHASE GIFTS FOR ONE DOLLAR AND WE SELL THEM FOR ONE DOLLAR. WE DO NOT MAKE ANY PROFIT. THE STUDENT ARE SENT HOME WITH A ZIPLOC BAGGY WITH GIFT TAGS AND A LETTER OF EXPLANATION. THE STUDENTS CAN PURCHASE FOUR ADULT GIFTS AND SHOP DURING SCHOOL HOURS. WHEN THE STUDENTS RETURNS TO SCHOOL, THEY BRING THEIR COMPLETED TAGS AND MONEY FOR THE GIFTS. THE STUDENTS COME TO THE SHOPPING AREA AND SHOP WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS. THE GIFTS ARE PRE WRAPPED. WE SPONSOR A WRAP NIGHT AND WRAP ALL OF THE PRESENTS AHEAD OF TIME. ALSO, IF A STUDENT WANTS TO SHOP AND THEIR COULD BE A FINANCIAL PROBLEM, WE LET THEM SHOP ANYWAY.
