we usually hold our sale all week and each class signs up for a 30 minute time slot to bring in their money and lists to shop--and we hold a family night for 2 hours. This year we did the sale at school for 2 days only and then had our shop open on Saturday during our breakfast with santa--We do our own shopping(use to use a vendor but decided a couple years ago that we could do a better shop ourselves) and we profited about $800 this year--we don't do it as a fundraiser but the shop on saturday really helped when mom and dad could bring in the younger children and let them shop too.
We have 4 days of shopping, plus a parents' night on the last night from 6-8 pm. Each class signs up for a time slot throughout the week, and has about 30 minutes to shop. Kids bring in a list with no more than 6 people on the list.
We start asking for parent vendors NOW for next year.. that way people can commit, and start buying Christmas stuff at deep discounts after Christmas. We have 8 parent vendors, and we tell them they need at least 700 pieces for the week. We figure 500 kids x 7 items each= 3500 items, plus teachers and parents always buy. We tell them to have that many so that by the time the last day rolls around, there are still choices.
The items are priced from .25 to $8.00, with the majority at about $1.00. We ask that each vendor have items for dads ( that's always a challenge).. and that they have a decent selection of .25, .50 and .75 items for kids who have small budgets, and long lists.
We charge each of the vendors $50.00 for the week to have the table, and we ( the PTO) turns that cash directly into the scholarship funs for kids in need. Our admin knows the kids in need and they take that $400 and put it into envelopes with $5.00 each in them, and they discreetly give to those kids in need. It's a win win situation.
The reason we like parent vendors is that we make it very clear that this is sort of a " community service thing" for these vendors. They LOVE the kids, and are VERY willing to sell things for much less than priced, if a child doesn't have enough money. Outside vendors won't do this. Our vendors have sold many items below their cost, just to see a smile on the kids' faces. The vendors usually just try to make back what they have spent throughout the year.
Our vendors sell Xmas decor, oriental trading stuff and everything in between. Jewelry is always a big hit, too!
hmmm what did I forget ? I will post this and see what I forgot!
Robin,
We talked about doing vendors instead, please post your info. I would love to hear it. We too are tired of no profit with lots of work but don't have the ability to go on our own.
Thanks
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
Thats a good average I will have to write that down for the next person for nest year. Thats what it pretty much came out to be for the students 5-6 items per.
Cindy
Cindy<br />
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<br>"People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse the privelege."
We usually figure an average of 5-6 items per student. This formula has worked very well for us.
We always have done our own for "a hundred years" and this year we are trying a vendor. Most of our items were some sort of homeade craft. It's nice to think we aren't spending a thousand hours getting it all ready.
Ours is more of a service opportunity for the students than a money maker. Our goal is to keep from going in the hole on it. We are lucky enough to make plenty of funds in other avenues.
we are on day 4, with tonight left to go.. we have always had parent vendors.. it works well. we are a school of 500+ kids. Anyone interested in how we do it, I will post details!
