WE have a lady here in town, years ago attended a mall that had a Children's CHristmas Store and NO PARENTS WHERE ALLOWED TO ENTER. Bassically it goes this way, Parents & child gets welcome at the door. THey fill a sheet to what present a child needs to buy. (ex- mother, father, brother or sister, grandma or grandpa) Also on this sheet is the amount of money that the child has to spend. THe child then enters the store with the sale clerk (they are all volunteer) and go from station t o station to pick what they need. Sales clerk then helps the child wrap the gifts, they are all tagged and a receipt is put in a enveloppe marked Do not open till CHristmas. Parents comes back about 30 min to 1 hour to pick their child up and the child is the only one who knows what they picked. THe parent usually takes this time to shop around with out no child.
THe product in this store is a products that store sent to be sold. THe money is all coming back to us. THe person doing this store is not making no money. We picked items that are price from $5.00 up to a max of $20.00. THe window of the store is all covered so no Adults see what is inside or what the child gets.
Now imagine this child eyes when you will open that present this Christmas, because he picked it just for you with out the help of Mom or DAD. It is that type of gifts that will be more precious than anything else. THe lady who is doing this store, her daughter on the first year had bought her a piece of jewlery and a bingo dabber. All inventory is controlled with sheets and control number. This is a joint efforts from a whole bunch of merchant that wanted to participate. THe advantage to me is I am seelling stuff to kids that would not come into my store or even their parents bringing them to my store.
THe cost inderectly is coming from our merchant association fund to buy wrapping paper, tapes etc. and some advertising that ties in with our regular advertising.
SO far the lady told me they have sold a lot from each store and it looks like it is working. If this is the case, next year when I do my buying I will bring in items espcially for that store that is reasonnably price.
I will give you a update after Christmas.
This was done in Ottawa before.
It may be worth brining it up to you mall association.
or Even get a organization llike Girl Guide to do it in your community as a fund raiser, where you giv ethem 10% of the sales to handle it.
THe mall we are in also are not charging them a fee for rental.
Luc
THe product in this store is a products that store sent to be sold. THe money is all coming back to us. THe person doing this store is not making no money. We picked items that are price from $5.00 up to a max of $20.00. THe window of the store is all covered so no Adults see what is inside or what the child gets.
Now imagine this child eyes when you will open that present this Christmas, because he picked it just for you with out the help of Mom or DAD. It is that type of gifts that will be more precious than anything else. THe lady who is doing this store, her daughter on the first year had bought her a piece of jewlery and a bingo dabber. All inventory is controlled with sheets and control number. This is a joint efforts from a whole bunch of merchant that wanted to participate. THe advantage to me is I am seelling stuff to kids that would not come into my store or even their parents bringing them to my store.
THe cost inderectly is coming from our merchant association fund to buy wrapping paper, tapes etc. and some advertising that ties in with our regular advertising.
SO far the lady told me they have sold a lot from each store and it looks like it is working. If this is the case, next year when I do my buying I will bring in items espcially for that store that is reasonnably price.
I will give you a update after Christmas.
This was done in Ottawa before.
It may be worth brining it up to you mall association.
or Even get a organization llike Girl Guide to do it in your community as a fund raiser, where you giv ethem 10% of the sales to handle it.
THe mall we are in also are not charging them a fee for rental.
Luc