The dust settles

The dust is finally starting to settle on the Fall 2010 fundraising season. We know now that two major pack and ship organizations in the eastern part of the country failed to deliver as promised. Both evidently had very attractive brochures that brought forth more sales than those companies' credit lines with their banks were able to support.

As mentioned before, banks are reluctant to lend, so it is a big gamble bringing in product for a catalog six months before sales even begin.

Our approach will be a careful and conservative one. We will be featuring products that we know are available and can be shipped. This may eliminate some of the cuter and more innovative items, but the problems in the supply chain this year indicate that this is the best course of action. Although "The Mackenzie Collection" set sales records in the schools, the very idea of having 31 different manufacturers represented in a brochure brought headaches and backorders.

Look for an attractive offering for Spring with items we are sure we can deliver. Look for an innovative and attractive and deliverable fall lineup, available for your inspection in late February or early March. It will be worth the wait, so don't be in any hurry to commit for fall 2011.