Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest days of the year for chocolate and candy sales; it’s rivaled only by Christmas and Easter. So naturally, Valentine’s Day is a great time to hold a Valentine’s Day candy sale as a fundraiser.
Your Choices for a Valentine’s Day Candy Fundraiser
You have two basic choices for a Valentine’s Day candy fundraiser.
• On-hand, cash, and carry candy sale
• Brochure or catalog sale
To hold an on-hand Valentine’s Day candy sale, you’ll need to pre-purchase a selection of candy and then hold one or more candy sales at a location that has good foot-traffic, or at a well-attended event.
The Pros of On-Hand Valentine’s Day Candy Sales
• No orders to organize
• No subsequent delivery and distribution of product to sellers and buyers
• Benefit of impulse buying
• Fast cash, instant access to profits
• Ability to pair with other events
• Sale is complete with the end of the sale
As an alternative, you may choose to pre-buy Valentine’s Day candy, and distribute to sellers who handle the on-hand sales. This entails more work and bookkeeping, but can increase outreach. This type of sale works well for Valentine’s Day lollipops and candy bars, but less well for gourmet candies.
The Cons of On-Hand Valentine’s Day Candy Sales
• Spending cash up-front
• Potential for excess candy stock, diminishing profit
• Need for longer-term storage of candy
• Need for volunteers to dedicate hours to manning sale tables
The Pro’s Of Valentine’s Day Brochure Candy Sales
• No up-front cash
• Payment collected prior to ordering
• Instant access to profits (in most cases; check with the company you are partnering with)
• No excess product
• No worry over “missing” and unpaid merchandise
• No long-term storage needs
The Cons Of Valentine’s Day Brochure Candy Sales
• Significant administrative work required for distribution of fundraising materials and ordering
• Management of sellers
• Products not on-hand for buyers to see
• Distribution, sorting, and delivery required
Notes About Holding A Valentine’s Day Candy Sale
Timing is very important when you are holding a holiday-based candy sale. The majority of your buyers will be purchasing candy to give as gifts, so it is imperative that their products arrive in enough time to be distributed and delivered. Have your product available at least three days prior to Valentine’s Day.
