Need help planning a crop...

[Maude4Disney]

Been lurking on this board for awhile and know this is the place to get some help. My darling DH has put me in charge of planning a crop at our church since I love to scrap, however, I've never been to a crop. We are looking for companies to come along the lines of Creative Memories and Stampin' Up. Are there any other companies like that that are strictly for scrapping? Or do I go to the area scrapbook stores and see if they would like to participate and in what way would they? The organization hosting the crop is providing doughnuts and coffee for morning, lunch and door prizes and I think they are planning on a raffle (maybe an item or 2 along the lines of a sizzix w/ dies or some other larger item, he hasn't really given me the budget yet for the item(s)) Is there something more we should be planning? thanks for any and all help.

 

[scrapperjill]

Is the crop going to be a fund raiser...or are you wanting to recoup your expenses? If so you'll want to find out what your budget is...guess how many croppers you'll get then figure out how much your going to charge. Some crops with lunch, snacks and door prizes can range anywhere from a few bucks to quite a bit. I think the cheepest crop I've been to (with lunch and stuff) has been around $15 pp.

Creative Memories is a ALL scrapping company...that has EVERYTHING you would need to do basic scrapbooking.... if you can find a Creative Memories consultant (CMC) in your area....chances are they've hosted a crop before...so they could probably give you a TON of tips. BUT be warned that ALOT of CMC's don't like scrappers using "non Creative memories" products. So depending on who you find...they may not like the idea of having non CM products raffled or given away.

You'll also want to think of a time frame in which your crop will be...Keeping in mind quite offten when people decide to pay and go to crop for the day they want to get their $$ worth. Myself I like the all day crops (12 hrs++)...say 9am-9pm or something along that lines. IMO it's to much work for me to pack my stuff up for a crop....go to it...unpack...crop a couple hours ....pack back up to load it all back home again... So IMO the time line means alot...

Food...what sort of food will be served and is it crop friendly? Which also brings up rules on where you eat...or having a designated area to eat at. There's not alot wrose than going to a crop...having your photos, albums and scrapstuff spread out...then have someone walk by and drop their plate of food right on top of it. Believe me it happens...I've seen it. That and having beverages sitting on a cropping surface. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people knock thier drink over....soaking not only their thing but other scrappers things as well.

Now I think having other companies come and set up thier things in the corrner is an excelent idea... it not only gives you more pull when you spread the word about the crop (you'll have every group that plans on comming spreading the word about the crop)....so IMO the more the merrier...BUT you'd want to make sure everyone knew the other organizations would be there also....sort of like a Bizzare for scrap vendors.

 

[Maude4Disney]

It is going to be a fundraiser, and they were figuring on $10-15 pp. I figured $15 since they were providing lunch and other foods. There will be a designated area for eating. I for one do not want food anywhere near my stuff. I think they are planning on doughnuts/rolls and coffee for morning and then pizza or such for lunch. We are hoping for 75-100 croppers. We already have a CM and a Stampin' Up consultant ready to go. Hours-wise we were planning on 8 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. Is that long enough? I know my neighbor has been to several that are from 9a.m. to midnight. Thanks for your input!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

How many Local Scrap Stores are near you? I would definitely contact each and every one of them to tell them about your fundraiser and the opportunity they have to reach out to more potential customers.

Then I would go to the local library or book store to pick up a few scrapbooking magazines and contact all the suppliers in the back. Let them know about the fundraiser, would they like to donate anything so that you would be sure to mention them in your advertising?

On the crop itself, just make sure you have plenty of room for the croppers to spread their stuff and lots of trash recepticles for everyone. Good lighting, comfortable temperature, comfortable seating and you are good to go.

 

[piratesmate]

You didn't ask about this, but one of my pet peeves at a crop is lack of space. Usually you're told how much scrap area you'll have - like 4', which is half a table. But something that often gets missed is the space between the tables. When going to a crop, some people will just have their rolling bags - but want them right next to them. Other people seem to bring nearly everything they own! So they not only spill over onto the other half of the table, but they pile stuff where people are trying to walk & along the walls. You may just want to consider this beforehand so you can either leave enough/extra space between tables or tell them when the sign up how much table space & that all rollies must be kept under the tables, etc.

My DDIL is going to a crop next month where people were given the option of paying an extra amount for a full table or for being seated near an electric outlet....like for digital scrappers.

As for other companies...you might see if there are any Close to My Heart, I Remember When or Top Line Creations consultants near you too.

 

[knovak]

Close To My Heart is another good scrapbooking company.

I go to crops at stores and pay $12 on a Friday night with only pizza and salad included from 4 - 12 (so 8 hours.) A 12 hour crop on a Saturday is $24 which includes lunch (usually sub sandwiches, chips and cookies) and dinner (usually fried chicken or pasta, side dish of potatoes or salad, bread and dessert) If you are having breakfast & lunch as well as beverages and for as long as you are planning even $20 would not be asking too much - plus it's a fundraiser.

I've been to a few fundraiser crops as well - I usually pay $35 - 40 for 14 hours of cropping. They serve all beverages, continental breakfast, lunch and dinner and usually a chocolate fountain for a afternoon snack. (It is at a hall) They also give out small goodie bags and have not only SB representatives, but people from PartyLite, Tastfully Simple, Tupperware etc. there to purchase from and they also have them donate items for a raffle table. The SB company reps offer make-n-takes also to promote their products. They also have snacks (like M&M's, Chex Mix on the tables for nibbling) They do have the meals set up in a different area so you don't eat where you are scrapping.

Good luck!

 

[Maude4Disney]

Thank you so much for all the helpful input.
Yes, it is being held at a hall, I was trying to figure out what to put in the goodie bags. What do they usually have in them?

Space is a personal concern of mine and I hadn't thought about charging extra for more space. I think we will have to consider that.

There are actually several scrap stores in the area and I plan on hitting each and everyone of them.

I hadn't thought about contacting the suppliers in the scrapbook magazines. I have plenty of those laying around.

I knew I had my work cut out for me. And I knew this would be the perfect place for help. Thank you all!!!!!