The decline in catalog sales is probably as much related to the change from post-pay sales to pre-pay sales over the years. With a pre-pay sale, you have eliminated a number of potential sales because the average person carries a little cash and plastic, not a lot of cash and a checkbook. Generally the amount uncollected on a postpay sale is far less than the profit lost because people didn't have the money to buy when asked.

I have used Great American for seven years. I sell pies prior to Thanksgiving and cookie dough prior to April vacation. Stay in touch with your rep and you should have no problems. My school program usually makes well over 2000.00 from selling pies and another 1500.00 selling cookie dough. Good luck...

PTO Mindy and Brenda--please lighten up. I was a PTO board member for over eight years and yes, I do have a number of years experience when it comes to school fund raising. You are right--catalog sales (gift wrap, etc. OR cookie dough) do make more money for a school than any other activity. No argument there. You rightfully expect your fellow PTO members to research the different options available to them and make the right choice for their school. Great idea, but too many times, however, the field it tilted in favor of the fund raising company. Some of these people do not have the interest of your school in mind, and they just want to make a sale. They are aggressive in their sales approach and can many times be very intimidating to the PTO members. Some of these people get in front of your group and start throwing around signing bonuses and signing deadlines. The service may be sub par and the products overpriced, but hey, here is popcorn machine if you sign tonight. Unfortunately, too many boards fall for that.

One more thought---all catalog sales have been going down for the past few years, even when the economy was good. Why? One reason is simply that the merchandise is too expensive. Yes, a good portion of the proceeds goes to the school, but when gift wrap costs $9.00 or a mug that one can find at Target for $4.00 sells for $14 in a catalog, people (YOUR customers) start to take notice. They simply buy less or they no longer participate. Of course, you may ask, why do these items cost so much? It started years ago when company "A" offered a higher percentage of profit than company "B". To offer 50% and more profit to a school, the companies simply raised the prices of the items every year till they became way overpriced. People stop buying and companies have closed their doors. Giftco was a huge supplier, but many distributors are also gone. I am not being negative, I am just telling it the way it is. The good news is that I am seeing schools saying that there are features of a program more important than the sacred percentage of profit. In response, some companies are starting to lower their retail prices for the good of everybody. Schools will still make money (maybe even more since people might now buy more), companies will make money (which they should) and everyone can be happy once again! I think that is pretty positive!

Yes, middle age dad,
You do seem to be negative a lot...what's up with that? In these ecomomic times we as pto parents need to find the best way to make the mnost money for our schools with the least volunteer effort. The data (shown on this site and in the magazine) proves that catalog sales is the BEST bet, hands down. It is up to the pto/pta groups to do their research, ask the right questions before making an informed decision. You aren';t doing anyone any good by writing what you think you know, and have not adtually reserched.

middle age dad,

i have read a lot of your posts, and I think you have your best interests at heart and not the pto. I have only made posts on the fundraising board and have watched your posts. I do belive that you are a rep for some company and you are doing your best to taint our choices in our fundraising efforts!!! Over half of what you post are half truths!! And that I can back up with facts!!

I certainly did not mean to paint every company with the same brush. I agree, you have to ask questions such as what does it mean when a company says that teachers can buy their products at 50% off. And please get everything in writing. sometimes reps will say and do things that the parent company will not honor unless it is part of the agreement.