Boy Scout Troop 140 s 2011 Holiday Wreath Fundraiser

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1 Boy Scout Troop 140 s 2011 Holiday Wreath Fundraiser General Information for Scouts and Parents For more years than anyone can remember (except maybe Mr. Baures) Troop 140 has been helping decorate Middleton for the holiday season. Our wreath fundraiser is the Troop s largest and most successful annual fundraising event. Last year we sold over 1,500 wreaths and made nearly $10,000 for the Troop while Scouts pocketed nearly $10,000 for their individual troop accounts! Our goal this year is to sell 1,800 wreaths! As a member of Troop 140 there are many great outings and trips to participate in each year. This year, in addition to our monthly outings and summer camp at Tesomas, we have a Philmont Scout Ranch trip. The cost of the Philmont trip will be around $1000. Tesomas summer camp will be approximately $275. The mini-high adventure is usually $ By selling wreaths you can earn all or part of the money needed to for these great trips. In addition to all the outings and trips, you can use money in your account for merit badge classes, supplies, camping or hiking gear such as tents, backpacks and other scouting related equipment like your Scout uniform. By selling, you also raise money for the Troop's general fund which is used for awards and ceremonies, bus maintenance, Scout garage and bus barn maintenance, utilities, charter, recruitment, leadership training for Scouts and adults, summer camp and equipment for the Troop. What does it take to be Successful? Set a Goal - Determine how many wreaths you are going to sell or how much money you want to earn for your account. (See the incentive program sheet to help you set your goal) Time It will take some time to go door to door set a schedule when you and one of your parents can take 1-2 hours to help you canvas your territory. Make it a fun activity - see how many houses you can do in two hours! Get out early and sell in your territory! Other organizations also sell wreaths at this time. Don t let them get to your customers before you do. Practice Your Presentation Potential customers will be more willing to buy a wreath if you have a good presentation. A good presentation includes introducing yourself, explaining what you are selling, telling how you and the Troop benefit, and being able to answer questions about the wreaths (cost, delivery etc.) Keep a Positive Attitude A positive attitude will help you achieve things you never thought were possible! What do we all get in addition to critical funding for Scouts and Troop 140? Timeless Values The values learned by earning the money to pay for some or all of your scouting experiences will last a lifetime. A chance to spend more time with each other It will take some time to go door to door set a schedule of different dates when you can both take 1-2 hours to canvas the territory. Make it a fun activity - see how many houses you can do in two hours! Get out early and sell in the territory! Development of Sales/Personal Skills Selling wreaths is great opportunity to build confidence, improve communication, organizational and money management skills. Set a goal and then go out and achieve it. 1

2 What s in the packet? 1) Envelopes for money collection 2) Form to report total wreaths sold each week 3) Color brochure and order forms of the products you can sell 4) 2011 Information handout Please review the information together and discuss the ideas presented. Hopefully it will answer most of your questions. If you need clarification on any part of this fundraiser, please contact Rob ( ) or Kim Squires ( ) for more information. Thank you for your support and willingness to help keep the Troop 140 Scout program growing. Calendar of Events Monday, September 26 Monday, October 3 Monday, October 10 Monday, October 17 Monday, October 24 Monday, October 31 Monday, November 7 Monday, November 14 Saturday, November 19 Monday, November 21 Saturday, November 26 Monday, December 5 Monday, December 12 Wreath Sale Kick-Off & Rally (Last day of protected territories) Report sales/turn in payments at PLC No meeting this week Sales Report/turn in payments at Troop meeting (Wreath Sale Ends) ALL SCOUTS help with wreath pick-up (7:30a 12:00p) Turn in payments at PLC/Troop Committee meeting Wreath pick-up at scout garage for those who absolutely can not make the Nov 19 th date. Turn in payments at Troop meeting Turn in remaining payments at Troop meeting. Sale is finished! How the Wreath Fundraiser Works 1. Each Scout who wishes is given a sales territory that is his alone at the start of the fundraiser. Scouts that sold 40 or more units last year can keep their territory. New Scouts and those selling less than 40 units last year will get a territory on a first come first serve basis. All Scouts must honor their territorial boundaries from Monday, September 26 th through Monday October 17 th. During this time, Scouts can sell to any business and close family relatives. Scouts may not sell to their neighbors if they live in another Scout s territory. As in the past we encourage parents to get involved with the fundraiser and take orders from co-workers, friends, and out-of-town relatives. After Monday October 17 th, you can sell anywhere. NOTE: The forms provided in the packet are to be used to take orders from your customers and are selfexplanatory. Remember, the order form is your only record of sale and delivery address - don't lose them! 2. Each Monday, Scouts turn in their TOTAL sales results and any payments collected on the envelopes provided. Make sure you count the money in the envelope and write that amount on the outside in the space provided. A new envelope should be used each week. It is very important that you report your sales and turn in payments every week. 2

3 3. If you are unable to attend a meeting, it is very important you arrange to get the money collected to Mrs. Cynthia Shaw, Troop Treasurer. On Saturday, November 19th, all Scouts will meet at 7:30 am at the Scout garage to head out to the wreath supplier and pick up the troop s order. All Scouts are expected to help with the wreath pick up. We will need cars, trucks, and trailers to pickup the load. We expect to return to the garage to set up for distribution by 10 am. Wreaths will be given to the Scouts who assisted in the pick up first. 4. On Saturday, November 26 th, Scouts who absolutely could not make the November 20 th pick-up, will have an opportunity to pick-up their wreaths from 9-11 am only. 5. Scouts deliver the wreaths as soon as possible and receive payment for wreaths not yet paid for. All payments are to be turned in by December 12 th Wreath Fundraiser Incentive Program Earn Funds for Your Troop Account!! Troop 140 has several excellent outings planned for 2011!! Make sure you are part of the fun!! Monthly outings - $20 - $160 (approximate) Summer 2011 Mini -High Adventure Trip - $200 (approximate) August 2011 Tesomas Summer Camp - $275 (approximate) Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM - $1000 (approximate) You ll receive a Bonus Payment when you Reach the Unit Level! A bonus will be awarded to each Scout selling 25, 50 or 75 or more units. The bonus is credited to all units you sell once you reach one of the three levels. This means that once you reach the 25, 50 or 75 unit level every unit back to the first one will be counted at the higher rate. Brothers will be credited on the basis of all units sold by the family. Wreath Size Our Selling Price Under 25 (20%) 25 or more (23%) 50 or more (26%) 75 or more (28%) 22 $22 $4.40 $5.10 $5.75 $ $30 $6.00 $6.90 $7.80 $ $54 $10.80 $12.40 $14.05 $ $80 $16.00 $18.40 $20.80 $ $100 $20.00 $23.00 $26.00 $28.00 Centerpiece $26 $5.20 $6.00 $6.80 $ Cane $32 $6.40 $7.40 $8.35 $ Rope $36 $7.20 $8.30 $9.40 $ Rope $72 $14.40 $16.60 $18.75 $20.20 Sell 40 Units and You Qualify for a Troop Reward Event 3

4 Each Scout who sells 40 or more units (brothers must sell 40 individually) will be eligible for a troop reward event to be determined. Selling Tips Get Out Early - You need to get out early and sell your territory! Other groups also sell wreaths at this time. Don t let them get to your customers before you do. Sell at parents work and don t forget to sell to the local businesses! Your Sales Presentation - One of the most important parts of selling wreaths is to have a practiced sales presentation. Below is an example of a sale presentation. Practice your sales presentation until you know it by heart. Hello, my name is and I am a Boy Scout in Troop 140 right here in Middleton. Our Troop is selling holiday wreaths and roping to help fund my various scouting activities. Our wreaths range in size from 22 inches up to 72 inches. The 22 and 30 inch are good sizes for most front doors and they sell from $22 to $30. We are also offering beautiful balsam roping in 25 foot and 50 foot lengths. It is a heavy roping that looks wonderful. Would you like to purchase a wreath or roping? If you place your order now, I'll deliver the order to your door on the week of November 20th. For your convenience, I would appreciate it if you could pay me now, so I won t have to bother you when I deliver your wreath. However, if you prefer you can pay me when I deliver your wreath. Thank you. About Our Wreaths - All wreaths are decorated with pine cones and red holly beads. A velvet bow comes with all wreaths and the candy cane. (the 42, 60, and 72 inch have 2 velvet bows). The roping is designed for outdoor use and is excellent quality. Things to remember Presale Start: Set a goal for units to sell. Make selling wreaths a family activity. Plan, sell, do the accounting and deliveries together. Schedule all possible dates and times when you can go out and sell on your family calendar. If you don t set a schedule something else seems to always come up. The time goes by fast. Read your instruction guide. Put important dates on your calendar (territory closing, pickup/delivery, payment dates) Practice your sales pitch with your parents, a friend or in front of a mirror Make up your own personalized fliers for ing, bulletin boards at work, school, church, etc. Team up with another scout so you can sell when your parents are busy. Develop a system for keeping track of who you ask and if you followed up when no one was home. You may want to make copies of the original map you were given of your territory for this purpose. Make a list of potential buyers. Include persons in your territory, places you frequent (stores, school, church, other places of work), extended family, and friends. Some churches allow an ad or an announcement in their bulletin and some will even allow a sales table after services. Selling Suggestions: 4 Set up your system and stick to it Wear your red Class B shirt and Troop 140 Hat (no Class A allowed) Use a clipboard for the order form it makes it easier to write down the order. Have the buyer fill out the order form. It will make it easier for them to remember their order later. Keep separate order forms for each group of sales: territory, work, and friends. It makes delivering much easier. The order form is your only record of sale and delivery address - don't lose them!

5 Use a few large envelopes for keeping supplies, change for cash purchasers, collecting money Inform your customers when you will deliver their wreath. Bring a tape measure with you to help people decide what size wreath they need for their door. Ride your bicycle. It saves tons of time and people will be impressed by your efforts. (Stay off the grass though). Use a pouch or pack for your sales materials Be persistent. Keep going back until you get a Yes or No, and keep track of their answer. If you get a NO answer, thank them and ask if they would like you to stop by next year. When customers ask when to pay, politely tell them that now would be best so you can just deliver the wreath if they are not home on the delivery date. Ask if it is OK to leave the wreath by the front door if they are not home Make suggestions: Would you also like another wreath for over your garage?, Some fresh garland would great around those posts, Do you need some for your office or work place? Be polite, not pushy Everyone you run into is a potential customer. Keep an order form in each vehicle. At a business for example, a parent may ask if they would like a scout to come by to take an order. Be prepared with responses to overcome objections. For instance, if they ask Why should I pay more that I did at Wal-Mart last year? you may respond Because we sell fresh, locally made, Wisconsin items. We have a great-looking product and we offer a no needles in your car-free deliver service. You will also be helping scouts and your local community. Be confident. Sales take practice and your customers are not expecting perfection. Be your polite self and you will get the job done Sundays are a great sales day-especially when the Packers are playing (and winning we hope) Try to keep chatting down to a minimum. Your goal should be to make as many stops as possible. Have a supply of self-addressed/stamped envelopes for those who do not have their checkbook or cash handy. Simply write the amount owed on the envelope flap and give the customer the envelope. Get permission to sell in gated communities. For apartment complexes get permission from the manager before leaving flyers or on their bulletin boards. Often they will order some for the common areas. Get permission to put flyers in newspaper boxes in your area Ask to put an ad in another organization s newsletter. Most are happy to do it for free Sell in an area outside the city limits. Are there any new subdivisions near you? It is best to sell in person, but do not hesitate to call customers if you have trouble finding them home. DO leave a message on the answering machine On a weekly basis, transfer the information from the order forms to the envelope. Don t forget to indicate units needed for early delivery on your envelope. Don t be afraid to try new approaches. Delivery tips: Deliver as soon as possible. Make up a short thank you note to leave with every order. Include your name, troop and phone number. You might consider printing these on card stock, so they are more durable with the wreaths, which may be moist. Consider a small gift (like candy) for large orders If you got permission to leave the wreath by the front door if they are not home, simply place items with the Thank you note and bow by the front door. Call ahead for money collections and large orders Keep the product cool until delivery (outside on a north facing deck out of the wind works best) Do not store wreaths in a heated area or vehicle Open-bed pickup trucks and trailers are very efficient for delivery Organize your delivery route. If you have collected money up front, this should be easy Remember a Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly Courteous, Kind, Cheerful. If someone decides not to buy, smile and thank them for their time. 5