Having been high school teachers ( K-12 Art, Photography and Yearbook) we understand fund-raising! We've sold just about everything possible to raise money for the yearbook (and the wrestling team!). I think I still have a couple of boxes of candy bars we couldn't get rid of. And maybe some of those tall candles in frosted glass holders... and someof that gift wrap too!

Our goal is to provide a way for schools to make a great return on their fund-raising efforts and give students some life experiences by operating a mock company. If time is short, or your students already know everything there is to know about life, (don't they all?) then we can offer the same special schools deal without the business setup component.

The project as configured for schools is different from that we would provide for the casual or professional producer.

These differences include:

No money down - No up front costs for schools, clubs or student organizations.

 

Information included to assist with sales, organizing your operation, sales force and other staffing. We also provide samples of invoices and business materials you can use in the sales of your map. For teachers we include two professional sales books on sales and selling.

 

A special catalog of sample ads is provided for your use. It allows the student to meet with the advertiser, pick an ad in a particular category and simply fill in the information needed for the ad. The biggest objection to advertising is not knowing how an advertisers ad willl look. The Sample ADcatalog almost completely removes this narrier to sales! This catalog, if available for sale, would sell for over $900.00 -- and we'll lend you a copy to help make your map a success.

 

This special catalog is available only with the Maps4Fun program.

 

We'll do special contracts written to comply with your school district/school board regulations. We'll coordinate with your bookstore, district office or other paying entity to make your job easier.

 

We have the simplest, easiest production payment plan.

 

Free map features including special school cover on the folded map, school mascot, sports schedules, scholl calendars and other school related features on both the flat and folded maps.

 

A toll-free 800 answer line for questions and advice.

Why a Cartoon Map and School Guide?

This is a unique fund-raising opportunity in many ways.

First, it provides a special school oriented product that is customized for your school and community. School mascots, school and sports schedules and other community information can be included.

Second, the advertiser knows they are not only supporting the school and the students but also that they can get a real return on their investment. We'll produce up to 10000 maps to be distributed in the community. Advertisers can put special promotions, aimed at the students or their families, on the map as part of their ad or, by putting special offers on coupon sheets that can be included with the map.

Since many businesses recognize the value of supporting the local school(s) the "job" of making the presentation and sale is made easier for the student sales force. We'll provide editorial copy for the school and community papers, and advice on how to garner other media coverage as well thereby heightening the awareness of the community to your project and helping to make it even more successful.

Additionally, each advertiser gets something they not only can hold in their hand but distribute to their customers. This way they know their support AND their ad are being seen. Compare this to a simple line in a yearbook or sports program.

What do we need to get started?

Any school class, club, group or organization can make a map. Of course the more students the better, but even small, dedicated clubs can be successful. Our experience is that smaller groups can combine forces to field a bigger student sales force. A minimum of 10 - 15 dedicated students (similar to a yearbook staff in size) can make a formidable team.

You can be up and running in just a few weeks but we recommend you plan well in advance.

We believe the easiest and most successful projects schedule the sales and production in one semester, with the actual Map/Guides being distributed the following semester. Sports and school schedules can wrap around summer or a spring production can be done to coincide with the opening of school next fall. Sales and production can continue through the summer months if you need the time or have a year 'round schedule

A map can be completed in one semester but that leaves little leeway if weather or other events get in the way.

When you're ready to begin contact us for specific information regarding "request for services" on district/school letterhead. We'll contact you, your school or District office as to their procedures for purchase orders and other contract information. As soon as we've set up the contractual part we'll ship you the information and production package.

If your school does not provide for a contract obligation from one school year to the next, we can do all the preliminary work in the spring and summer and sign the contracts in the fall for completion during that school year.

Do I or my students need to be an artists?

No. That's why we're here. The Sample Ad Catalog will make ad selection a snap. For the rare business not in the Catalog, if you can draw stick figures then you're good to go. We'll even show you a way to provide us with "location" information so we can position the ads on your map.

How big does my town have to be?

This depends on the size of the map you want to do. A 25 ad calendar map could probably be done in a community with as few as 250 businesses. (Sounds like a lot of businesses? Take a look at your local Yellow Pages, Every business in there is a potential advertiser)

A high school group might find it can sell 75 ads in a community with 500 businesses since there could be a lot of community support for the fund raiser and the opportunity to have their business depicted on a map that also contains sports and school schedules.

For a 100 ad map, the most popular size, a universe of 750+ businesses is a good rule of thumb. The more businesses you can talk to the better will be your outcome but there is no hard and fast formula for what works. The decision to make the map must be made by you, in your community, after careful consideration.

What goes on a map? In a Business Guide?

All full size maps contain the cartoon ads for your advertisers, approved by them, positioned on the map as close as possible to their actual location. Important streets, roads and highways are included to show the most direct method to get to the advertisers. Additionally, some landmarks, an information panel ( with community events or school schedule), custom title of the map, school mascots where appropriate, humorous cartoons, and full color background are included. the maps are shipped flat.

For a two sided Map & Business Guide all the above is included on the map side. On the reverse or back side there's full color front and back covers, two interior pages that can be used for important phone numbers, school sports schedules, community or organization calendar of events, and an index that allows every business to have a short paragraph about their business. The map is folded to a convenient size for display.

The interior pages normally used for information can also be sold as display advertising and add to your income. There is a charge for the production of the ad art by us for your client or to insert art supplied by your client. This is covered in the information guide in more detail.

How do you distribute the maps?

We recommend that you simply provide every advertiser with 50 -100 maps and let them hand them out. Schools can distribute the maps this way or at sports or other school events. Maps can be handed out to each new student. Sent home to parents. Extras can be given to the Chamber of Commerce. Special laminated copies can be provided for the School Board and District Office or other school officials.

How long does it take?

The sales end of the process is entirely up to you. Are your students only be selling one or two afternoons a week or every day? How many students do you have selling? Do you have a goal date? The end of the school year or a graduation? We estimate about 6 -12 weeks for sales is about average. Whatever time it takes we'll be ready to start as soon as you let us know you're ready to go.

Production usually works like this. It takes about 4-6 weeks to produce your first proof from the information sent in. Missing or incomplete info can slow this down but this is a pretty firm time line.

We'll send you the FIRST PROOF and we generally allow 1-2 weeks to proof the ads with your clients. Need more time? No problem. Just let us know.

Depending on the amount of corrections, any additional work you want done, etc. we'll get the CORRECTED FINAL PROOF copy back to you in about 2 weeks.

You should carefully check this FINAL PROOF. Take as much time as you want but most clients seem to get this done in about 48 hours.

You'll return the APPROVED FINAL COPY to us and we'll do the last work on the map and begin the printing process. Usually takes about 3 -4 weeks to print.

The actual production time - time in our art shop and printing - usually runs 8 to 12 weeks depending on size, complexity and special requests.

How do you pay for the map?

For schools we require you to place all money in an escrow account set up in your bookstore, principal or District office. This is so that prior to starting any work for you, should you desire to not complete the map you can return all the money collected to the advertisers, return all the materials we sent to you to us and you will owe nothing. Please note there is a substantial penalty fee for returning damaged, or illegally copied, or incomplete materials or not returnign them at all.

The first payment of ½ of the total amount is due when you send in your ads and information to begin production. Note that like most businesses in the art and printing trade once we begin production this first half is non-refundable.

The final payment of the balance due will be due prior to the actual printing of your map. No printing can begin without this payment. Any additional costs (laminates, cost of shipping, etc. will be due at this time also)

What does it cost?

Click on the PRICES button to the left to go directly to the prices page.

We welcome calls and are here to answer any questions. We know each school and community is unique and are willing to work with you to make your fund-raising a success. You can e-mail us or call us toll free at 1-800-256-8549

 

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