Fundraising with Cookbooks
Cookbooks have been popular fundraisers for years.
They started out with church and women's groups and have now spread like wildfire.
It's because they can be produced by almost any size group, club, team, or nonprofit organization.
Much of the increased popularity can be attributed to the use of the internet by cookbook publishing companies and the ease of producing a cookbook online.
Despite the spread of cookbook fundraisers, they remain a good source of fundraising income.
A custom cookbook allows you to use your members' recipes, personalize the cover, choose from different layouts, choose the binding, and include pictures in your cookbook.
Your group will collect recipes and pictures from your members, family, and friends and submit them to the cookbook company.
The company prints your custom cookbook and ships them to you.
Payment is required up front.
Getting Organized Start with a little planning.
A committee of 6 - 8 members will help spread the work with gathering/submitting recipes and with sales.
The cookbook publisher you choose will have an established process for you to follow.
Be sure you commit to a publisher, contact them, and understand their specific requirements before you start to collect recipes and pictures.
Things to look for include:
The more books you order the cheaper each one is.
It will also vary depending on the makeup of your cookbook.
Color covers, pictures, and overly large books (over 200 recipes) will increase the cost.
A good rule of thumb is expect to at least double your money.
So, if your cookbooks costs $6, it should retail for at least $12.
Another rule of thumb is expect to sell 3 cookbooks for every recipe contributor.
This will help you decide on how many cookbooks to order.
A great way to reduce the cost of your cookbook is to include advertising.
Just a few ads can significantly reduce your costs.
Sales Secrets There are several ways to increase the desirability of your cookbook which will increase sales:
Taking orders and collecting money before you order will reduce your out of pocket expenses when you publish.
Always order extra copies and make sure your cookbook information is stored by your publisher for reprinting later.
Other suggestions to increase your sales:
They started out with church and women's groups and have now spread like wildfire.
It's because they can be produced by almost any size group, club, team, or nonprofit organization.
Much of the increased popularity can be attributed to the use of the internet by cookbook publishing companies and the ease of producing a cookbook online.
Despite the spread of cookbook fundraisers, they remain a good source of fundraising income.
- A custom cookbook is unique to your group.
- They aren't overly difficult to produce.
- With the right marketing they sell well.
- They have a long shelf life and can be sold year round.
- They are a popular gift item around the holidays.
A custom cookbook allows you to use your members' recipes, personalize the cover, choose from different layouts, choose the binding, and include pictures in your cookbook.
Your group will collect recipes and pictures from your members, family, and friends and submit them to the cookbook company.
The company prints your custom cookbook and ships them to you.
Payment is required up front.
Getting Organized Start with a little planning.
- Who will lead the project?
- What are the goals of your cookbook fundraiser?
- What will be the design of the cookbook?
A committee of 6 - 8 members will help spread the work with gathering/submitting recipes and with sales.
The cookbook publisher you choose will have an established process for you to follow.
Be sure you commit to a publisher, contact them, and understand their specific requirements before you start to collect recipes and pictures.
Things to look for include:
- Guidelines
- Formats
- Pricing
- Payment plans
- Upfront costs
- Minimum order
- Shipping costs
- Typesetting arrangements
- Reprint procedures
- Scheduling requirements
- Free cooking hints and starter recipes for you to use
- Selling materials for your group
The more books you order the cheaper each one is.
It will also vary depending on the makeup of your cookbook.
Color covers, pictures, and overly large books (over 200 recipes) will increase the cost.
A good rule of thumb is expect to at least double your money.
So, if your cookbooks costs $6, it should retail for at least $12.
Another rule of thumb is expect to sell 3 cookbooks for every recipe contributor.
This will help you decide on how many cookbooks to order.
A great way to reduce the cost of your cookbook is to include advertising.
Just a few ads can significantly reduce your costs.
Sales Secrets There are several ways to increase the desirability of your cookbook which will increase sales:
- The uniqueness of your cookbook- give it a special twist.
- Cover design- choose a cover that has broad appeal.
- Keepsake quality- don't go cheap.
- Photos- everyone likes to see themselves.
- Keep it specific to your group- spreading the focus for your cookbook can make it bland.
- Proof read carefully- pay attention to the spelling of your contributors names.
- Customize divider pages- colored stock, artwork or photos add appeal.
- And above all- keep it personal and user friendly.
Taking orders and collecting money before you order will reduce your out of pocket expenses when you publish.
Always order extra copies and make sure your cookbook information is stored by your publisher for reprinting later.
Other suggestions to increase your sales:
- Make it an annual event, bring out a new cookbook each year.
- Include sales coupon and ordering information in each cookbook for others who may be interested.
- Push your cookbooks at the holidays as a gift idea.
- Ask businesses and bookstores to sell your cookbooks.
- Display your cookbooks at all your meetings, events, and any time your group has a get together.
- Advertise in your newsletters, emails, website and any time you contact your members.
- Give cookbooks away as door prizes, raffle prizes or as an auction item.
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