Distributing School Spirit Coffee

School Spirit Coffee products are delivered to our customers by flavor and coffee type, not by individual sellers. Because our coffees are fresh roasted prior to your delivery plus we don't feel it is enviromentally wise to ship 200 boxes, I don't expect that we will ever ship otherwise. Don't be overwhelmed though, I spent this morning at a local school sorting and distributing 1,500 lbs of coffee products. With three volunteers we were done in two hours! Here is how to make it work well for you.
First, sort the coffee by type and flavor and line up in the exact order of the order form. Your first item will be Breakfast Blend Ground and the last item is Mocha Jo. Don't put the Breaksfast Blend Whole Bean by the Breakfast Blend Ground, that confuses the volunteers. Breakfast Blend Whole bean will be after Variety Pak, just like the order form. Inventory the product numbers against the Packing Slips.
Before you start the second step I recommend a very handy tool you can create - cheap and quick. Take a letter size envelope and using a paper cutter (what school doesn't have a paper cutter) slice 1/4 inch off the top and the bottom of the envelope, eliminating the flap and the sealed bottom. Now divide the remaining envelope in half creating two long strips that will slide perfectly over an order form. This is your guide. Make one for every volunteer.
Second, slide the handy tool over the first student's order form and line it up with Breakfast Blend Ground. Move across the order form with your handy tool until you have filled that person's order. Repeat this step for each order form.
Third, pass out the boxes, bags or whatever you packaged the orders in. You're done!
Now wasn't that easy!
Your room will smell amazing while you are sorting and filling the orders. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice

It's almost fall, Walmart has Thanksgiving items out, Kohl's is selling pumpkin sweaters and School Spirit Coffee has Pumpkin Spice on our order forms. Pumpkin Spice is the most popular holiday flavor of the fall holiday flavors. Even though it seems early for that, the turn around of your fundraiser makes sense. If you are starting a fundraiser this week, your sale will complete in two weeks and the delivery of products is within another two weeks. That's right, by then we are almost in October! The products that you sell now have a shelf live of six months if they are stored at room temperature in your pantry. Coffee can be stored in the freezer indefinitely, not the refrigerator. There is too much moisture in the refrigerator to safely protect the quality of your coffee product. If you store coffee beans, ground or whole, in the freezer only remove what you need per brew unless you are going to use it everyday until is it gone. To sum up - we are in the holiday season, whether you feel like it or not. Live in the moment of summer, but sell for the days to come. By the way - our top products are Breakfast Blend, French Vanilla, Hazelnut Supreme and Snickerdoodle. Pumpkin Spice will never be tops - only tops of the Holiday Flavors.

Keeping it Personal

My favorite emails are from our repeat customers. They say something like "Hi Debbie, we are back to school and will be ready to start our fundraiser on Sept. 1st." It's personal and friendly, even though I haven't met many of our customers outside of Kentucky. The reason is obvious, it's because I am available. When you email or call School Spirit Coffee you will be talking to me. Personal contact with customers is important and one of the most helpful benefits a fundraising company can offer you. Organizing and operating a fundraiser is a big job and I have found that my customers appreciate being able to reach me with a question or problem. That's why I love to get those friendly emails that tell me we are doing something right.

Tis the Season

It feels like October in KY, unseasonably cool, but we are fast approaching August. With the teachers and students returning to school comes the challenge of funding those programs we love - band, chorus, sports team, cheerleaders, clubs, group trips and even schools themselves. Boosters all over the states are putting their heads together trying to come up with the best fundraiser ever. Planning, Timeline and Rewarding, previously mentioned in an earlier blog, are my keys to success whether you are selling coffee or flowers. Plan for success by making sure you have chosen a company that provides a quality product AND excellent customer service. Don't be tricked by companies that offer incentives that look like they came from the dollar store or special services that they are actually going to charge you for. At School Spirit Coffee, our customers come back year after year because they know we care about their success. I'm looking forward to a great year with School Spirit Coffee!

Blogging 101

Here's the scoop on blogging. When you post a comment, the program is going to ask you for a profile. If you have an account with one listed then by all means use that. However, you do not need to create an account - use the Name/URL, insert your name - no URL needed. That post will be sent to me for approval and then you are live. I want to hear from you. Thanks

Summer Planning

Wow, am I in the midst of planning for School Spirit Coffee 2009/2010! We have new order forms, new flyers, updated website and much much more. Mocha Jo (Hot Chocolate) is back by popular demand - yes, I heard you!!! Our coffee selection and quality has never been better. Top four - Breakfast Blend, French Vanilla, Hazelnut Supreme and Snicker-Doodle are still offered in the popular Variety Pak. Did you notice I spelled Snicker-Doodle differenly? There is a company that notified me that they have a trademark on the name Snickerdoodle. Can you believe that? It's like a trademark on French Vanilla - not going to happen. Anyway, I don't want any trouble so I have changed the spelling. Same product and great taste, one of my personal favorites. My customers are the best and I am privileged to help with their fundraising needs.

I kind of let the blog thing be forgotten for awhile. I'm back!
School Spirit Coffee wants to hear from you, successes and failures in fundraising and why you think that happened.
I've been on three sides of fundraising. The passionate booster parent, a supporter of organizations and the owner of a fundraising company. Since my daughters are grown I'm no longer a booster parent, but I am still on two sides of fundraising. If you knock on my door I'm going to buy something from you. In the past year I have bought a duck pot holder, microwave popcorn, candles, Chistmas ornaments and believe it or not School Spirit Coffee.
First the pot holder - it is shaped like a large duck puppet, bright yellow. The mouth opens to grasp your hot items from the oven. Why did I buy that? Because the cute little seven year old across the street was raising money for her school.
The popcorn, candles and ornaments were purchased for similar reasons. The popcorn was not that great, but it helped a little boyscout. The candles and ornament are still in my bureau waiting to be given away as friendship or hospitality gifts. They are smaller than they looked in the catalog.
OK, this is my favorite. Our local high school soccer team sold School Spirit Coffee last year. One of the soccer team members knocked on our door selling School Spirit Coffee and we bought 3 lbs - two English Toffee, one Snickerdoodle. She had no idea that we were actually the ones they were buying the coffee from. Why did I buy that? Because they knocked on our door!
In summary - I would say that you will have customers that will buy something just because you are selling, but how much better it would be to sell something they are looking to buy again when you are back next year.

Let's Begin

Coffee and Fundraising are my passion. Well, next to my husband, two daughters and Jesus! It is what I do. I am starting this blog to get your feedback not only from School Spirit Coffee Fundraisers but about fundraising in general. Let me know what works for you and what doesn't. You are the experts, you know what you need so let's begin a learning experience for everyone. When you post an idea let us know if you are a teacher, booster, student or whatever. Those in your position will be able to relate.
I am looking forward to a great learning experience.
Debbie Hohman
owner - School Spirit Coffee