We merchandised our shop for the first time last year. We made teice as much as when we'd used the services and didn't get as many complaints that the stuff was junk.

These were not the finest items that we had ordered, but it was good quality for the prices charged.

We now have experience, a year's worth of sales data, and some good suppliers, so I'd imagine we'll do a little better this year.

I am starting to look for things already -- like maybe some of those Farraday flashlights. We do a lot more work, but I think it was better than in the past.

We have our Holiday Shop 2 weeks before Xmas. We are a K-5 school with 850 kids, so we break it up in 2 days. 3 grades one day and the other 3 grades another day. It is very well organized and has been a mainstay for our school for a long time. It is not meant to be a fundraiser, but we do very well, making $2000 on it.

Our vendor is Reindeer Lane. They send us the product and price cards and we take care of the rest. All gifts are between $0.25 and $10, with most between $1 and $4. We do not have to take inventory or buy anything, just take out of the boxes, make sure nothing is broken, and lay it out on our tables. Afterwards, we just pack up whatever did not sell and send it back to the company, at their expense. It is very simple and the volunteers do not mind working with this type of system. Classes come down in 20 minute intervals and do their shopping. It works, so why try and fix something that is not broke!!

That is what we do. we tried consignment and doing it ourselves and it never worked. We also have a low-income school and did well. For those who did not have money, our H&S gave each child $2 to shop with. It does not sound like much, but the smiles on their faces was well worth it to me and the teachers.
Lots of luck.

We run our Holiday Gift Shop Monday thru Thursday of one week, around the first week of Dec. We get our items from a local dollar store, so obviously all items are sold for a dollar! Teachers sign up for a time slot, then we coordinate volunteers to work those shifts. We buy bulk red bags for "wrapping". Kids come in with shopping lists, which were sent home prior, with family members checked off that they must buy for. I suggest limiting your lists to immediate family members! Last year we included aunt, uncles and cousins, and some kids were buying 20+ items! Trying to get one kid to decide on 20 different things to buy is no picnic! LOL

We have run a Christmas Shop for the last two - three years. Keep in mind this is not a fundraiser, more of a fun service for the kids. The kids love it...but we have used the same company each year. I would like to be able to offer new gifts, yet they need to be inexpensive. Many families in our school are low income. I would like to know if any of you run a Christmas Shop and if so what company to you get you gifts through? Also, how do you run your shop? We have run our's through the school week, but a college near by in another city does something along the lines of this but on a Saturday. Does anyone do theirs on the weekend and is there a good turn out. I think we would be more successful if it was opened up to the children in our community, not just our students. Any suggestions? :confused: