Entertainment Book Fundraiser Open for Business and Coming Out of Bankruptcy...

Entertainment book open, closed, open again.

The closure of Entertainment book on March 12, 2013 sent a shockwave through the school fundraising industry. One question crosses the mind.  'How in the world does a company as big as this fall?'

Entertainment is a pretty big deal when it comes to fundraising companies. Although their commitment to schools and groups may change in the digital age, millions of people use their coupons for discounts in their local markets every year.

It would appear that investors played the biggest factor in the demise of the company, leading to a bankruptcy filing and complete shut down of the company - not the coupon fundraiser itself.

Of course, shutting down a company of this size gets people thinking and it wasn't long before family stepped in to reclaim the company making an offer of $11.3 million to buy the company assets.

Here are a few articles to look at for a better idea of where things stand:

Son of Entertainment Publications founders makes $11.3 million offer to buy company assets

Direct link:
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130322/NEWS/130329946/son-of-entertainment-publications-founders-makes-11-3-million-offer

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Entertainment® Coupon Book Company Acquired by Son of Company Founders

Direct link:
http://www.entertainment.com/about/company/press/entertainment-coupon-book-company-acquired-by-son-of-company-founders/

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So, how will the Entertainment book fare with their comeback?  I guess nobody knows.  From what I can gather, they seem confident in their ability to change with the times.  They suggest that their business model had nothing to do with the bankruptcy so by all accounts they may just be back in business.

Here is the original post with the comeback announcement comment at the bottom of the post:

Entertainment Book Maker Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Closes Doors...

Direct link:
http://believejay.blogspot.com/2013/03/entertainment-book-maker-files-for.html?showComment=1365528483548#c8898169890489751275

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Ok, until next time

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Elementary School Fundraising

Free Elementary School Fundraising Samples & Info...

In your travels you'll run across many fundraisers.  The thing is, how do you know which fundraiser is right for your school or group?

The decision process you go through should go further than just feeling right.  Your decision should be based on what is right for your school at the time you will be running it.

Things like 'I need the highest amount of money that can be raised' or 'This is a secondary fundraiser' are important to know.

If you decide you need to raise top-dollar, there are only a few companies that can do that effectively for you, without adding work to your already busy schedules (or interrupting class time).

Go ahead and follow the instructions on the video to get elementary school fundraising information from Believe Kids BEFORE you make your next fundraising decision.

Thanks much!!!



http://believekids.com/ is direct link - click on Free Info Kit on the top of the page.

Should I Involve the Principal in My School Fundraiser?

OMG!  YES!!!

Involve the principal in your school fundraiser whenever possible.  If you can host a concise fundraiser where there is 'buy in' from the principal, faculty and teachers, you can raise enough funds in one fundraiser to not have to fundraise the rest of the year.  

Getting the Principal on board means that you can more easily earn the allegiance of the administration and teachers too!  Go do it, you can thank me later!

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraising

Should my School Fundraiser Have Online Shopping?

Yes.  Your school fundraiser should have online shopping.  As time progresses, it's becoming clearer that online purchases is just commonplace.  If you don't have an online component to your fundraiser, you either have a funky thing going, or it's not as well developed as other fundraisers on the market.  Online fundraising sales, while not the main way people purchase, is still A way people purchase.  Don't miss the boat :)

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraiser

Involve Teachers in your School Fundraising!

If you're hosting a school-wide fundraiser, you probably realize that teachers can be for you or against you.  Take for instance a school where the teachers don't want any interruption in their day.  They will purposely not mention your fundraiser, all but insuring that it doesn't retain excitement over the 10 or so days you run the fundraiser.

On the other hand, consider what happens when the teachers retain the initial excitement of the fundraiser from kick-off to order turn-in.  What a difference!  

Instead of kids forgetting about the fundraiser, kids can go home and encourage parents to participate!  This is HUGE!

Why in the world would a teacher want to support a school fundraiser?  Because if the school reaches their fundraising goal, they can sit back and enjoy uninterrupted classroom time for the rest of the year!

Ok, until next time!

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Support a school fundraiser

Just Add Another School Fundraiser!

If you're having trouble raising money for your school.  Answer this question...

If things don't go well with my current fundraiser, I will... ((your answer here)).

If you said 'add another fundraiser' we need to talk!

In school fundraising, too much of a good thing is not good, so creating a healthy school fundraising strategy is your best bet.  This includes just taking a bit of a comprehensive look at fundraisers that perform at a high level, before going through the motions on ones that don't.

Leave your comments here or on twitter if you have any thoughts on this!  Regardless of who you fundraise with, you can ensure maximum profitability!  What are you doing to create a successful fundraiser for your school?

Ok, until next time!

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school fundraiser

You Fundraise Too Much!

Yes, You Fundraise Too Much!

Many companies send email campaigns.  You receive many of them.  Bed, Bath & Beyond, World Market, Gap, etc.  

Every time an email is sent a certain percentage of the list unsubscribes.  Basically, they are opting out suggesting that they are no longer a marketing target.  They are saying 'don't bug me!'

So, consider this.  For every school fundraiser you add to your school year, a certain number of parents will 'unsubscribe' from your list as well.  The only difference is, you don't know who and when this happens.

Since you can't get new email subscribers, you need to make sure your parents don't leave your list!

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Ok, until next time!

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School Fundraisers

Our Hats Off to You!

If you had a successful Fall school fundraiser, our hats off to you!

Hats off to any school that hosted a successful Fall fundraiser!

Chances are, it took teamwork, planning and the understanding that a fundraiser is a two-week commitment that works best if you work it.  Hey, it's not meant to be hard but raising a year's worth of income in just a few short weeks is not easy either!

Ok, congratulations!

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Elementary School Fundraiser

The New 'ONE WAY' to Succeed at School Fundraising

There's no debate - the code has been cracked!

There is 'ONE WAY' to succeed at your school fundraiser!

That way is...

CREATE EXCITEMENT!

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So, there's plenty of causes.  There's plenty of fundraisers.  The difference in the success of these fundraisers comes down to how much people pull together to make it fun and impactful. 

No fundraiser succeeds just by sending packets home. 

What are you doing to increase your school fundraising income?

Ok, until next time!

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successful fundraiser
school fundraiser

Why School Principals Get Involved in School Fundraisers and Why Some Do Not...

This is a really important question.  The involvement of the principal in school principal during the main fundraiser of the school year is perhaps the biggest contributor to the success of the fundraiser!

So, then...

Why are so many school principals not getting involved in the fundraising efforts at their schools?

Yes, that's the question! 

I don't want to make anyone feel bad or take the conversation somewhere it shouldn't go.  Instead, I would like to hear from principals on why it is they do or don't support the fundraisers at their school. 

Please just take 1 minute to leave a comment for me below, hit me up at twitter.com/believekids or use disqus on the home page of my school fundraising website

Thank you, thank you!

Help Your Child Find Their Passion!

I produced this short video in case anyone wants to use it.  Basically, it's a way to remind parents that supporting school fundraisers helps children find their passion.  I really think we need to be reminded that inside the well-funded classroom, our children have the opportunity to discover what they truly love.  Discovering that will impact their entire lives.  Feel free to use this video in any way helpful.

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundriaser

Spirit Night Vs. School Fundraiser

A spirit night should not be confused with a school fundraiser.  In reality, they are two different things.  A school that promotes a spirit night may make about $300 while a school fundraiser will raise anywhere between $10,000 and as much as $100,000.

There's just no comparison there.

So, keep your spirit nights fun and your fundraisers fundraisers!

Ok, until next time!

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school fundraiser

5 Simple Ways to Increase Participation in your School Fundraiser!

5 ways to increase participation in your school fundraiser from Believe Kids Fundraising

5 Simple Ways to Increase Participation in your School Fundraiser!
Enjoy!

Share if you likey!

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elementary school fundraiser

School Fundraiser Risk...

School Fundraising Risk Graph

There are a number of risks involved in school fundraising.  Yeah, sounds pretty dramatic doesn't it! 

Well, OK.The reality is, if you take pride in your school and your involvement matters, there's risk there.

The last thing you want to do is host a fundraiser that is going to fall short.  What motivates many decisions on the PTA or PTO is the fear of embarrassment when a fundraiser fails to provide a good customer experience or sufficient profit.

In a nutshell, risk is two-fold.

If you hire a band to play your event, but they have a guarantee of payment, you have risk.  If you pay upfront for a product without knowing if it will sell, you have risk. This type of risk I call 'Real' risk because losing all or part of your money is a 'Real' possibility.

And then there is 'Emotional' risk.  The damage done by parents feeling they've been taken, the feeling that the flaws in the event were unforgivable, the feeling that it's all just too much.  This risk is damaging to the group because the students, parents or the community will not want to support future activities of the school, group or parent group. Take for instance the bad customer service or bad food you experienced at a restaurant.  Did the disapointment leave you saying to yourself, 'I won't be back.'?

The feeling parents have after a dismal event or too many fundraisers feels very similar. 

The point of this post is to remind schools and groups that fundraising can be risky.  There are companies that absorb most, if not all of that risk and you should seek them out.  By avoiding payment up-front and helping with customer service and such, many parents avoid the bad restaurant experience I mentioned above.

At the very least, as long as you're aware that you should try to minimize risk, the fundraiser will be better off for it.

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraiser

Promote, Promote, Promote!

Fall fundraising season is here!  Schools everywhere will be entering into a new season of fundraising.  This time around though, somethings different, the game's changed. 

If you're hosting a school fundraiser and you are tempted to just hand things out and see what comes back, please re-consider.

Your school fundraising revenue depends largely on if your school pulls together to promote the fundraiser, or not.


Promote with fundraising success in mind!

Ok, until next time!

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cookie dough fundraiser

The ABC's of Elementary School Fundraising...

Let's take  a look at some of the ABC's of elementary school fundraising starting with why you fundraise. Here are some fundraising basics:


Fundraise if you REALLY need money. 

Don't fundraise if you can get the money elsewhere without burdening the entire group.  Don't fundraise if you can charge parents directly such as dues or equipment fees.  Don't fundraise if you compromize nothing by not having the money.
 
Fundraise deliberately.  

Get a plan together and stick to it.  If you have a goal, you can hit that goal.  That means you select a fundraiser that is capable of earning that much money.  If you need to hit your goal, do not host new and untested fundraisers.

Avoid risk.

Some fundraisers come with an element of risk.  For instance, there are fundraisers that you pay upfront for product (such as candy bar sales) and then you distribute the product.  Knowing how much you can sell and not over-ordering is important.  Getting stuck with a bunch of extra candy, unsold tickets or carnival prizes eats into your profit percentage.

Team up

Put a team together to help promote the fundraiser.  If you're able to get the principal on board, your sales can go through the roof.  One email from the principal alone could be worth thousands of dollars in sales!

Host a heavy-hitter

In an effort to fundraise less but more effectively, choose a heavy-hitting fundraiser to raise your funds.  This way, instead of staggering fundraisers over the course of the year, you can minimize other fundraising efforts with one profitable one!

I post here everyday so subscribe, comment or share if you like the info. 

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraisers

Summer - The perfect time to plan ahead!

Do you think it's hard to plan ahead for a school fundraiser?  

When you're poolside with the little ones, it's probably pretty darn difficult to imagine the responsibilities of the Fall fundraiser.  What's more is, it's even harder to imagine that time is right around the corner.

So, here's the thing.  Just a bit of planning before Fall will go a long way to providing you and your school a sense of accomplishment and success!

Start early.

You don't have to have it all figured out but starting early ensures your ability to focus on the important tasks at the right time!

Build a team.

You'll want help navigating everything.  A team of other PTA or PTO members will help you!

Plan.

Have a plan for the fundraising goal and for how big or small your fundraising effort will be. 

Participate.

You'll need to think about how to get the most people you can involved.  This means making the fundraiser important in the eyes of everyone involved.  Consider everything from marketing the fundraiser to rewarding sellers.  The more encouragement, the better the fundraiser!

Succeed!

If you start early and recognize the major ways you can impact your fundraiser, you will hit your goals!

I'm here if you need me so feel free to continue the conversation in comments below or at twitter.com/believekids

Ok, until next time!

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school fundraiser

How Much Do Schools Get for Profit from the Fundraiser?

Every fall during fundraising season, several customers email me asking how much profit the school gets from the school fundraiser.  It's an interesting one because the question itself has meaning beyond it's original meaning.

People are looking for something more than just a percentage.

The question itself implies that the consumer is looking to find fault in what we do or to discredit it in some way.  It implies that the schools would be better off without a cut going to the fundraising company.  What they need is the confidence to purchase knowing that they are not being taken.  In a way it all makes sense.

There are two reasons for this in my opinion. 

The first is a down and dirty resistance to charitable giving.  More precisely, it's a response to being asked for something someone really didn't set out to do on their own.  It makes someone want to gain control back.  I hope I don't offend anyone by saying this but this is most commonly expressed in comments like... 'I'd rather give directly to the school'.  The key there is the 'I'd rather'.  It would seem that giving through the fundraiser or giving direct are the choices when really, there is no choice.  People are always able to give directly so the question is really just to support the fundraiser at hand or not.

Which brings me to the second reason.  There has to be a valuable exchange in which the school benefits and the fundraising company does not.  The fundraising company is very likely viewed as the bad guy - the necessary evil and they should not gain.  Why this is, I am not sure.  The fact is, people don't get all that bent out of shape with typical retail where companies profits are their own and they don't give the majority of their income away.   

What most people forget is that school fundraising isn't a matter of 50 cents on the dollar going to the school.  There are product costs and shipping and prizes and promotions and consulting and marketing materials and catalogs and order forms and websites and warehousing and a bunch of other stuff involved. There is consistency and security and trust too. 

Schools get a lot of benefits from using good fundraising companies.

Ok, until next time...


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school fundraisers

Your School Fundraising Profit Margin Matters!

Hey real quick. 10% back to the school is not a fundraiser.  It's a service or possibly just a sales tactic.

Things are what they are so... it's up to you to understand what fundraisers are fundraisers and which are just marketed as such.

If you're in the market for a school fundraiser of any kind or a service to enhance your school, perhaps this post will help.

School fundraisers are intended to make money.  There's a numerical reality to every fundraiser and they do vary considerably.  A fundraiser with a good gift and wrap fundraising catalog company for example (I put my company here as an example, but there you may find alternatives out there) is strategically designed to produce results.  In fact, very significant dollars can be earned in just a few weeks with very little volunteer help.

Fundraisers in this category include:

• Gift & Wrap catalogs
• Frozen cookie dough
• Magazine sales
• Some chocolate bar, jewelry and candle sales


By contrast, some fundraisers are more of a service.  You offer something for a token of good will back to the school or group.  Seems like maybe a slight distinction in some cases and a big difference in others.  Let's delve in.  First off, I am certainly not dogging these types of efforts.  I want you to know up-front that whatever you do for fundraisers and services is fine by me if it's fine by you.  I do in fact have a fundraiser in this category spirit gear for schools and groups.  They just don't generate the same income to the group.  That is truly the deciding factor.  Things like participation matter as do the number of products sold.

Items in this category include:

• Box top and other label rewards programs
• Recycling programs
• Restaurant nights
• Single product fundraisers
• Party fundraisers - gold parties, Tupperware, mattresses
• Book fairs

These all have a service element to them. Recycling old electronics gets the schools a few dollars while providing a way to get rid of old and unused items that are of value for someone else.

The reason I mention this is simple...

If you offer a service fundraiser then roll right into a fundraiser designed to make money, what happens?

Yep, some folks will feel as if they have already contributed to the cause and not participate.  So, instead of raising $100 for the cause, they've recycled a toner cartridge worth $2

I realize this is pretty general, but it's worth considering. The profit percentage you make is clearly important.  Making sure that your participants are focused on the fundraisers that generate the most income is important.

If you want to develop a fundraising strategy that works, the other stuff should be reconsidered.  The last thing the school needs is to host 10 or more service fundraisers during the year and call them fundraisers.  Just like 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', if you really do need money, everyone will just assume they have already come to your rescue enough.

Ok, until next time!

Keep the conversation going - twitter.com/believekids

Can a spring carnival be damaging to your school?

Quote from an email I was forwarded proving spring carnivals can be hard to organize.

This is an interesting one isn't it!  Basically, some drama surrounding a school fundraiser and a threat thrown in just to top it off.

So, when I hear that there's no risk in an event fundraiser, I know it's not true.  Here is the risk of an event being cancelled due to lack of volunteers.  But moreover, the people seeing this message now know that the event has very little support.  Further extrapolation tells you the event is not very important to the majority of the parents at the school.

So, I know it's complicated thinking in terms of the ramifications of hosting difficult fundraisers, but here is an example of a fundraisers that is damaging to this particular school.  Hey, things will certainly go on and summer will be here and it'll be forgotten but there's something there.

Something that proves to parents that they are part of the majority (proof that not helping is perfectly ok) vs. the minority (these one or two must be over-achievers).

Ok, until next time!

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twitter.com/believekids
School Fundraisers