SaveAround's Community Conversation

Now you are quickly approaching and will soon be in the throes of the fall season - schools are starting to resume back to some sense of normalcy and groups are ready to fundraise. Here are a few reminders about maximizing your days for the fall while trying to schedule kickoffs, sign new business, handle existing business, and keep up your stamina.

DO

Arrive at school early - try to meet with potential sponsors before school begins.
Ask for referrals while you are there and try to get at least one per meeting.
Bring your calendar to pencil in kickoff dates or sale dates. Create a sense of urgency.
Follow up with an email confirming dates and anything else you need to communicate.
Turn in the contract to grouprelations@savearound.com.

DON’T

Email only. Some sponsors need to see you in person (especially after last year).
Be in a hurry. Listen intently listen to them, and develop relationships. Don’t rush.
Assume. Just because it was like that before doesn’t mean that things haven’t changed.
Overpromise. Know what products are available and when. Don’t assume books are in the warehouse mid-July (they aren’t). Confirm with the office and make sure you know the deal along with any updates or things that are new for Fall ‘21.
Be inflexible. Ask for date options or if things can move up or back on the schedule.

The keys to success for a great fall should include:

Be available before AND after school. Coaches may prefer a post-practice meeting.
Offer an evening call or a Saturday morning meeting. Be flexible and be available.
Provide options - coupon books and apparel are always options. Know your products.
Always have a plan before you go to a meeting. Be prepared. Rehearse ahead of time.
Ask for a referral (same school or a similar group). Coaches know other coaches.
Keep a list of your daily activities and track your results.
Do your daily activities match up with your goals for the fall?
Don’t just be “busy”, but rather be “productive”.
There should be a method to your madness.

If you want to discuss your sales plans and goals, send an email to sales@savearound.com. One of our team members will be glad to review these with you and give you some input and feedback.

Calendar Countdown
Wait?!?!?!?!? I just got started. School just opened and the fall season just got underway.

However, starting around August 1st and running through December 17th, there are only one hundred available (approx) days to fundraise with your groups. Keep in mind that this does not include holidays, fall breaks, or teacher inservice days.

So once you factor in those additional days off (3 holidays, a week for fall break, and 2 inservice days) - now you are down to EIGHTY available days to fundraise this fall and we haven’t even mentioned inclement weather.

August, September, and October should be your target months to run as many groups as possible. November and December are somewhat tougher to schedule kickoffs especially with the more holidays in the mix and fall semester drawing to a close. Many times, sponsors don’t want to add something to their plate in November and December. Try to fill up the first three months of August, September, and October as quickly as possible.

CREATE a SENSE of URGENCY!!!

Don’t wait ~ get on with it NOW!!!!

Use every hour of every day and be PRODUCTIVE!!!

SaveAround has always tried to be a good steward of its financial responsibility and resources not only to the company, but its employees, its sales team, and the customers we ALL serve. Over the years, shipping costs have dramatically increased across the board.

Here are a few things you can assist with to be sure we are maximizing shipping efforts and keeping costs down:

1. Residential vs. Commercial
It can sometimes cost as much as 40% more to deliver to a home address vs. a commercial address after you add in surcharges, extra fees, out of range expenses and so forth. If at all possible, the preferred destination would be the group’s commercial address (i.e. school, academy, main office, etc.)

2. We don’t have a commercial address
In that case, there are alternate locations that could serve as “pick up” locations and are considered “commercial” because of their location. On the main drag, on a main commercial street with a lot of other businesses nearby, or they are a shipping/delivery facility as well.

3. Options
Here are some suggestions if you need an alternative “commercial pick up” location”

FedEx Store
The UPS Store
CVS
Storage Unit Facility
Another fulfillment center
PTO sponsor’s work address

Think through some alternative locations if your group doesn’t have a staffed commercial location or the ability to receive their shipment during regular business hours. Stop in and check to see if that could work for you in these specific circumstances and help keep shipping charges down. If you have any questions about the shipping information, please contact the Sales Support team via email sales@savearound.com and someone will be happy to help you.

Orders and Shipments

OK, your groups are signed up, you’ve submitted the contract to group relations - now what?!?!?!

Here are a few reminders on how to ensure an on-time delivery for your books:

Confirm the date ahead of time with your sponsor. Make sure nothing has changed.

Once confirmed, contact Group Relations and make sure the order is in the system.

Confirm the needed by date or the must arrive by date. Is the school closed the Friday before Labor Day? If so, request to ship the books a day or two before.

Watch your email for the tracking #. Use it and track it yourself. Update your sponsor.

Confirm receipt of the books at the school (front office, who signed for them, time of delivery). You will need to know all of those things because this isn’t the only delivery that came in on that day.

If you have any questions or concerns about your book shipments, contact the Group Relations team ASAP and they will be glad to assist. grouprelations@savearound.com

Fact #1: Americans typically refer to this time of year as “fall,” while the British use the word “autumn.” Both terms date back to the 16th century but before that it was called “harvest”.

Fact #2: Fall was called “harvest” because of the “harvest moon” that occurs when the full moon is closest to the autumn equinox. Before man-made lighting, this moonlight was essential to a prosperous harvest.

Fact #3: Weight gain around this time of year may not only be due to comforting fall foods like pumpkin pie and cider, researchers have found that lack of vitamin D reduces fat breakdown and triggers fat storage.

Fact #4: According to The Weather Channel, pumpkins are the most craved food during the fall.

Fact #5: The yellow and orange colors always exist in leaves but they are overpowered by the abundance of green from chlorophyll. The amount of chlorophyll starts to decrease as the sun weakens and the days grow shorter.

Fact #6: Red and purple leaves are only that color because of the presence of sugars and sap that are trapped within the leaves. These sugars provide plants with the energy they need to survive.

Fact #7: Many birds will prepare for their winter migration during the fall. The Arctic Tern travels 11,000 miles each way for it’s annual migration.

Fact #8: Evergreen trees such as pines, cedars, and spruces stay green because their leaves (needles) are covered with thick wax and they contain materials that prevent freezing when it gets cold.

Fact #9: Men and women experience high levels of testosterone during the fall. This makes sense because more babies are conceived during the fall and winter.

Fact #10: We can’t forget Halloween! Halloween takes place in the fall and comes from ancient Celtic tradition. They believed that ghosts roamed on Halloween and people would wear disguises in order to hide from these spirits.