Originally posted by Jenn R.:
I think an electronic cookbook could be really great ...

Now if this doesn't exist...maybe we should create it ourselves [img]smile.gif[/img]

I had planned to put our school cookbook an a CD last year. I was going to use Adobe Acrobat Professional. I had already created the original in Open Office (like MS Word). I then created a .PDF that I'd add links to for navigating the book. There are all sorts of security options, too, for copy protection and to make it downloadable.

The year started happening and this became very low priority. We did not think we'd sell very many.

The costs involved would be in the printing of and cover, the CDs, and the jewel case. If you plan to sell a lot, it would be worth checking into a CD replicating service.

Instead of re-hashing the old book, I think we are going to do a new one next year or the year after and work photos and maybe some video into an electronic version.

Our original made about $2000. they sold for $10 each, and we sold sponsorships to pay for about half the printing and binding costs. We, too, sold ours on clearance this year for $3. We now have them on the front office counter with a donation jar, suggested $3.

They are selling like hotcakes! I have to replenish the supply every couple of days. Only a bout 200 left.

G & R seemed lke they'd be very nice to work with. We were about to sign on with them when hurricane Charley hit. Once the dust settled, it was too late for them to deliver by Christmas.

I think an electronic cookbook could be really great. You would only download the exact number of cookbooks needed, no extra inventory. And with cd label makers out there, the "cover" can still be really cute. Even the jewel case "insert" could include all the credits to who helped and what not. A "cover" contest drawn by the kids could be simple and fun. The cost to make this would be very low. Even ad space on the actual "home" page of the electronic cookbook could be sold and help defer costs. The ideas are endless...

Now if this doesn't exist...maybe we should create it ourselves [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hmmm, good question Jenn. I'll have to think and peruse around on that one.

The ones that I've seen make money are when the committee has gone out and sold ad space to companies. The ad money pays all the cost up front on printing the cookbook. Then...when you do sell the cookbook, it's all profit. This is very hard to do, it seems, but if you have some gung ho volunteers to go knock on business doors, then it would pay for itself.

Sort of on the same topic, but different question. The idea of creating a cookbook came up at our church the other day and all sorts of thoughts came to my mind. One was - is there software out there that can create an "electronic" cookbook....so instead of typing recipes into a program to be sent off and printed - can it be downloaded and just sold on a CD? Like doing it on your own and selling the CD to pop into the computer and pull up recipes "on line". I know everyone doesn't have computer access, etc. But...has anyone seen anything like this?

Our school did this in 2001 in the spring. We still have probably half of them. At our school it was a flop.

I love these types of cookbooks and have bought many from churches. Our school broke even, but that was it. We had them out this year at our Open House again and sold about 15 at a reduced price of $3. Will be putting them out at our school Christmas Store also. They are just sitting in the office taking up space for the last five years.

Tons of people contributed, but few actually purchased.

We have not but I'm very interested in this...after many years of enjoying Army wives cookbooks I know these can be tremendous....Once I give up the President's job I may do this as a fundraiser for the PTO. One thing I did hear from folks is:

don't offer to type the recipees yourself to save money (way too much hassel for the money trade off)

Have a pile of recipees that you can give a child's name too. Many of these companies offer a safety net if you have 50 percent student participation in the school. So if you have a parent that wants to have her child be a part of the book but she's not a big "cook" then you can offer her a choice from some preselected menus.

Let me know how it all comes together....
d