Spotlight: Lil Shopper’s Shoppe

Host a hip onsite fundraiser with this fresh money-raising idea.

Year after year, schools find great success with traditional product and brochure fundraising programs. These tried-and-true methods are great ways to raise the money schools need to help students reach their goals.

Still, schools often come to us looking for something different to breathe new life into the fundraising tradition, and one of our most unique solutions is Lil Shopper's Shoppe fundraising program. This turnkey fundraiser is an exciting fall fundraising idea with unparalleled interaction and fun for students and parents alike.

What is the Lil Shopper's Shoppe Fundraiser?

The Lil Shopper's Shoppe fundraising program is essentially a "pop-up shop" that you run right from the hallways of your school. It features affordable, customizable merchandise that students can purchase as gifts for family, friends, and teachers.

This fundraising program is unique because it engages students as customers. Students will learn lessons about budgeting and value while helping their school meet essential fundraising needs. Parents send students to school with one of the flexible means of payment, and students redeem their cash or gift certificates for merchandise.

What types of items are available?

This fundraising program includes quality items such as jewelry, mugs, pens, plaques, and toys. These items are designed to be accessible and personal gifts that students can conveniently purchase for the holidays. The breadth of options ensures that nearly every student will find the perfect gifts through this holiday-themed fundraising program.

How much setup is required for this fundraiser?

You're ready to go with a couple of tables and a place to store merchandise securely. This package is complete with pre-priced tent cards and pre-coded merchandise and has the option of a decorating kit.

How do I let people know about this fundraiser?

This fundraising program includes a parent letter (also available in Spanish), budget envelopes, posters, and a 24/7 chairperson website. The full suite of marketing materials makes it easier than ever to advertise this unique fundraising opportunity without the added work of making custom fliers and marketing material.

How do we take payment?

As fundraisers go, checks, cash, and order forms can get unwieldy. This fundraising program offers many great options besides traditional payment methods, including pre-purchased gift certificates that parents can send with students to spend and a "cash register" app for the increasing popularity of card-based payment.

How much profit can we make?

That's up to you! Goal setting and evaluating past fundraising performance can be a helpful exercise in determining the best price point. You can mark up items 10-20% to set prices most appealing to your student body.

The Lil Shopper's Shoppe is a complete suite of fundraising essentials with a new twist on the sales approach. If your school wants to do something different this year, consider Shoppe an attractive fall fundraiser option.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.