Camp Cards?

[LeCastor]

Does anyone have experience selling "camp cards"? I've seen this done in high schools. The idea is you sell a wallet-sized card that gives you discounts at various participating stores. They're inexpensive and I hear they sell fairly well. Our council is suggesting them again this year.

[Fehler]

We did them in the Northern Star Council. $5 per card, and they came with a detachable/tear-off coupon for $4 off a large pizza at Papa Murphys and a detachable free 1/2 hour at a trampoline park, along with other deals (4 cents/gal off gas, 50% off premium oil change, 10% off Scout Shop camping equipment). Unit kept 50% ($2.50) of each card, to go to unit or back to the scout.

 

It was new for us last year. I liked that we could "check out" as many cards as we wanted, and then return as many unsold cards as necessary. Families that used the pizza stubs bought a bunch, since they were "making money" by ordering pizza. A couple units set up outside the participating vendors, and sold direct to their customers. It worked well, if I ignored exactly what the council did with their %50 of the card proceeds.

[jpstodwftexas]

Northwest Texas Council did Camp Cards last two years...Depending on The Sponsors you get, People will buy like Crazy...I find they sell. easier than Popcorn. One Sponsor here is $3 off a Full Carwash..One year we had a Pop Off buy 1 Get 1 Free Big Mac..

[scoutergipper]

Our fundraising Chair experimented with these in 2013. Only a handful of boys were interested and only a couple really worked at it. The two that worked at it killed it. The only criticism we got was that people didn't like the vendors.. We've discussed creating our own "camp card" with vendors we recruit that people will like.

[LeCastor]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! The common theme I see is that these cards are a hit. I think this could possibly replace popcorn for our Troop, and I see that as a good thing because the Scouts are losing steam with that dang popcorn anyway...

[JasonG172]

Love the program- they SELL themselves

[JasonG172]

I think this could possibly replace popcorn for our Troop' date=' and I see that as a good thing because the Scouts are losing steam with that dang popcorn anyway...[/quote']

 

 

Naw, keep the popcorn! This is just extra.

[IM_Kathy]

we have boys selling them. Some end up paying their whole summer camp by selling them. We usually set up a couple of weekends to sell in front of one of the stores that gives them the $5 off since that's what the card costs and poof they've already covered the cost plus have more discounts to use.

[JasonG172]

Our Cards are Primary sponsored by Kroger, but we are NOT allowed to setup shop outside to sell them. The whole reason is to draw the customers in not pick them up on the way in.

 

But yes you can cover summer camp EASY

[SSScout]

Merry Christmas. Jason, I trust you are not saying the Scout keeps the money ($2.50) from the sale of the card...? I can understand the Troop bankrolling the funds for the Scout, but not directly, yes?

[IM_Kathy]

ours has 2 main $5 off parts to card - 1 place doesn't allow sales outside but the other does. We even had checkers notice someone spending over $50 and let them know about the card and they would run over and buy one and use that piece.

[jpstodwftexas]

Best to My Knowledge....Each Council gets their own Sponsors...So The Cards Vary as do the sponsors

[JasonG172]

Merry Christmas. Jason' date=' I trust you are not saying the Scout keeps the money ($2.50) from the sale of the card...? I can understand the Troop bankrolling the funds for the Scout, but not directly, yes?[/quote']

 

I don't know where I said keep the money. I said I would keep selling popcorn, and the cards are just extra money.

 

Scouts earn 50% off the Camp Cards, which goes directly into the scouts account which can be used towards camp.

[LeCastor]

 

I don't know where I said keep the money. I said I would keep selling popcorn, and the cards are just extra money.

 

Scouts earn 50% off the Camp Cards, which goes directly into the scouts account which can be used towards camp.

 

 

Jason, this is where you'll have to tread lightly moving forward. The whole account thing is a touchy subject these days. Stosh and I were advocating a few weeks back for fundraising for the good of the Troop rather than for the individual. Personally, I like the idea of the patrol working together to sell "widgets" for the good of the whole team rather than each member on his own. I was labelled a socialist/communist for saying that though.

 

 

[OrangeScouter]

LeCastor. We had 3 Scouts in our Troop last year pay for summer camp completely with these cards. I am excited to see them back this year. Yes, popcorn is tough but the quality of corn my council had this year was an improvement despite the dissatisfaction I felt by changing companies. I have a feeling if you live in a larger urban area these cards will be a no brainer as I live in a rural town and they sold well!