With almost 1000 kids in our K4-5th school, it takes the entire week for all of the kids to come through one class at a time. We always allow kids to come back later in the week if they forgot their money or remembered they needed to buy for another person. Teachers sign up for their times, so really it's up to them to pick a time earlier in the week (Tuesday is the best day -- kids don't forget their money and the shelves are still well stocked). We had two fifth grade classes that were going to come on the last day in the last two time slots -- we allowed them to send kids 2-3 at a time throughout the week. We usually have to go out and buy extra stuff during the week because we run out, but our goal is to NOT carryover product inventory from one year to the next.. As someone else mentioned, we are not a regular store with trucks coming every week to replenish stock. We also have a 25/50 cent table with little birthday party goody bag type stuff for the kids to buy for themselves AFTER they've purchased for everyone else on their list. We DO carryover these items from year to year if necessary.
We try to wrap all of the items for the K4, K5, and 1st graders, but for the older kids we at least try to wrap the mom gift since it's usually mom who is helping to wrap the rest). This has worked out very well for us.
We limit our kids to only shopping for the people that live in their house (but not for themselves). We divide items up so all groups get a good selection. Then near the end of the last day we have "Black Friday" where kids can buy anything for anyone. We always completely sell out this way! It's great!
Our Secret Santa runs for 5 days. We pre-wrap everything & items range from $1-5. We have been known to go shopping during the week to replenish popular items. It's a pain in the neck for the chair people but it's worth it. . We have approximately 600 children from Pre-K-5 & make too much money from this event for us to limit purchases or to have to close the shop early because we've run out of inventory.
Our school offers the Santa Shop 2 weeks in a row and open on a Thursday and a Friday. That way if they forget they're money the first day they can bring it on Friday following. By the second week and the 4th day they pretty much expect to have a small selection of items to choose from.
One thing that has been fun for our kids is that we have brown paper sacks(lunch size) and have the kids (ahead of time) decorate them. We spread them out on a tables and the kids put their items in each sack and label them. Some just take a few home if they run out of time and label them at home.
I also expect and plan to buy another "small" shipment the 2nd week of the sale as well. We also try to buy most items at $1 therefore most items are priced at $2. We don't mark anything that's $2. This cuts down on the pricing/time consuming part of the process.
We also give out tickets to kids who may not be able to afford anything so they have a chance to buy something for their family as well.
We also purchase out own items- and run into this with our $5.00 table-- we sell until we run out-- and we promote that--- we are not a store and do not have an never ending supply--- we do have carryover and make notes on what sells better--
We decided not to offer wrapping--- way to hard with kids purchasing so much-- but we have given wrapping paper that last 2 years for kids to take home and wrap the items themselves--
I thinking limiting the items may cause a back lash of less purchasing--- it is always tough to figure how much to purchase--- good luck!
