The team behind School Ponytails have decades (I've lost count!) of experience in retail, sales, and marketing. We've seen successes and failures, and can attest that there are plenty of great ideas in this world, but not all too many are executed well!
Here's what we know about executing a successful School Ponytails bow fundraiser at school, summed up in to 10 simple tips.
1. Plan your fundraising around obvious events
Planning is good! Identify opportunities early on, and link sales opportunities to big events. The biggest events of the year for school P&C and Uniform Shops include:
1. Back To School
2. School Photo Day
3. Summer/Winter uniform change
4. Sports Carnivals
5. The new class of Kindy kids starting up.
These are the events that we recommend to promote the companion sale of hair accessories - it's a really simple fundraising idea when it pairs perfectly with uniform sales!
2. Opt in to passive fundraising opportunities as early as possible
3. Communicate
- Promote the ability to order (at least once).
- Remind parents that orders are open (at least once).
- Give parents a reminder about the due date for orders.
- Thank parents for participating, and let them know how well you went with your fundraiser.
4. Promote! Promote! Promote!
Facebook really is a great tool for communicating with parents. If your school has a website, or uses a Facebook Group, app, or Online Canteen, be sure to add the links for online ordering, and the uniform shop order forms for printing.
You're also supplied with marketing materials to make it easy to post to Facebook to remind parents that orders are open, orders are due, and thank them for their support - all you need to do is post them!
Between additions to the newsletters, printed posters around school, and social media, you're sure to catch parents' eyes one way or the other.
5. Think outside the box
6. Meet needs
- they're helping their school
- they don't need to run about the shops to find the right stuff (that doesn't exist at the shops!)
- it's an easier process to "just buy from the school"
- parents are well aware that hats, jumpers, and bows WILL go missing (and need replaced).
7. Add on sales are easy sales
8. Get creative
9. Get colourful
10. Thank and inform
For more tips on sales and promotions, or advice on how to make your School Ponytails fundraiser the star earner at your school, join us in our Facebook Group.
To get started on your own no risk, no cost fundraise with bows journey, simple email us or request an Info Pack for your commmittee.
- Nicola @ School Ponytails