Reuse your K-Cups

The Keurig Coffee brewer is a "once and done" coffee pod that has certainly reached a level of popularity. However, the pod itself is trashed each time you brew one cup of coffee and that has caused some environmental concerns. Click here for more information about that.

Now there is a way to reuse your pods many times. My-Kaps has developed the tools you need to refill and enjoy many cups of coffee from one pod. In addition, you are no longer restricted to purchasing the packaged K-Cup coffee exclusively. Fill them with School Spirit Coffee or Teas!

K-Cups can cost you anywhere from .45 - .65 per cup. One lb of School Spirit Coffee will brew 85 to 100 cups of coffee (depending on the strength you prefer). That makes your costs between .14 and .16 per cup. Obviously a smart choice for Keurig owners.

Carl Powell, the owner of K-Kaps, has provided this link where you can purchase with a discount. Click here for more information.

Your feedback is important to us. Please let us know what your results are with this product since I am not and don't intend to be a Keurig owner.

Boost Your Fundraiser

Our most successful fundraisers are administrated by a Booster. These programs have a base of support (even though it may be small) that will take the pressure off the teacher, director or adviser. They meet on a regular basis, plan for fundraising and other events and take ownership of making your program successful.

School Spirit Coffee provides a Parent/Guardian letter with our Sales Package. It is intended to help you inform and solicit the resources of your participants biggest fans - their parents. The notice lets them know when the Fundraiser is beginning, how much you would appreciate their help and how they can do that. This is an automatic jump start to a great fundraiser.

I also recommend that you enlist the help of Boosters in summarizing the forms, collecting the money, placing the order and distributing the products upon delivery. It is the hands on involvement and a measure of their success that will keep them engaged in your program.

Hence the name "Boosters". If you are conducting a fundraiser but not enlisting your Boosters you may have a good sale, but believe me when I say it could be better.

Meet Tamatha

It is actually hard to catch a picture of Tamatha. She is in motion 99% of the time.

Tamatha joined the staff of School Spirit Coffee last year and has become a valuable part of our family.

A mother of four boys (can you imagine), wife, professional photographer and so much more!!!

Tamatha works with Sandra to fulfill School Spirit Coffee orders. She is conscientious, careful and committed to helping School Spirit Coffee succeed.

Tamatha organized a fundraiser for the Clark County Orchestra (she too is a professional booster Mom) last spring which was a great success and hopefully the beginning of many more fundraisers to help the orchestra of Clark County meet their needs.

School Spirit Coffee is blessed to have Tamatha as part of our amazing team. Thanks Tamatha for all your hard work and commitment to SSC.

Meet Sandra

Today's post features one of our key employees, Sandra Leal. Sandra has worked for School Spirit Coffee for five years and oversees the daily operations of our Roastery. The only thing she doesn't do is roast the coffee!
Sandra is an expert at labeling the packaging, filling the orders, shipping and quality control. She never takes a short cut with our orders and constantly gives me knew ideas on how to make our production smoother. I seriously stay out of her way once I hand the order over to her, confident that it will be completed with our quality standards in mind.
When Sandra is not at work she is a devoted wife and mother of four beautiful girls, ages 12, 9, 5 and 3. Obviously a busy woman! Her hobbies include dancing, reading, walking and watching her favorite TV shows. Her favorite products that we sell are the Mocha Jo, French Vanilla Cappuccino and Snicker Doodle. She is just learning to drink "real" coffee!

A Fun Day at the Roastery

This blog has nothing to do with fundraising but everything to do with having a great staff. Tuesday was my birthday and also a day the Roastery is open to the public. I usually arrive somewhat after the staff but this week when I arrived no one was there - at least that's what I thought with concern.

I raised the garage door to reveal a storefront full of streamers and birthday banners. Not just the storefront but as I made my way to the back of the Roastery decorations greeted me everywhere. As I passed a table full of birthday treats, Sandra and Tamatha jumped out and threw confetti all over me! I've made it 54 years without having a surprise birthday party. Needless to say I was surprised and also thankful that they were actually at work!

Just so you know, while we are roasting and packaging your orders, we are also having fun. It is such a blessing to work with people you enjoy and that also enjoy their work. In the next few blogs I will introduce you to the staff the keeps School Spirit Coffee rolling. They are the best.

Arkansas Stixx

I want to use Arkansas Stixx as a perfect example. After six years of fundraising with schools and nonprofits I have learned that you can't judge the success of a fundraiser by the number of order forms you send out - it's all about how motivated the group is to raise funds.

Since we are a Direct Fundraising Company, we don't have reps all over the states that come to your kick off and generate a big hype to help you raise funds. I am opposed to that type of fundraising, which you would know if you've read previous post.

Arkansas Stixx is a group of 40 members associated with Arkansas State University, that just raised close to $1,500 because they are committed to meeting the financial needs of their group. Awesome! No, they didn't have 100% participation but they have shown passion, which is what I appreciate.

Can you generate excitement for the success of your group, without the hype of overpriced products and cheap dollar store incentives? Then School Spirit Coffee is for you.

Brewing Success

School Spirit Coffee and Creative Coffees Roastery were featured in the local paper yesterday. The Winchester Sun in Winchester, KY. See highlights and pictures here - http://tinyurl.com/6jub3at