Licorice might not be the first candy that comes to mind for a school fundraiser, but that's exactly what makes it a smart choice. It stands out from the sea of chocolate bars and gummy bears, appeals to wide range of customers, and gives your fundraiser a memorable identity. Here's a guide to running a successful licorice candy fundraiser at your next school event.
1. Set a Clear Fundraising Goal
Before you stock up on different licorice flavors, it’s always a good idea to know what you’re raising money for and the specific amount of money you want to raise. For example, our goal is $1500 dollars, for improvements on our sports facility. When things are specific, it gives people a purpose and the motivation to reach the goal and get behind the cause. When breaking it down, this helps your students and volunteers feel the goal is achievable.
2. Choose the Right Licorice flavors!
When choosing which licorice flavors to stock for your event fundraiser, it’s always a good idea to get a variety of options. Some flavors are more widely recognized, and sometimes that can help. But customers do like to try new or unique flavors that’s not widely available. I provided a little outline for the variety of licorice flavors that we offer.
Strawberry and Cherry - These flavors are classics, and most people already know what to expect. They're pleasant and familiar choices for customers.
Black licorice - It’s the original licorice flavor and continues to attract a steady following with its distinctive taste.
Blue Raspberry and Green Apple - These two flavors are always a fun choice for younger buyers, with blue raspberry being the most popular.
Red Raspberry and Cinnamon - These are the kinds of flavors that really resonate with adults. They offer something different from the usual lineup, with red raspberry being one of flavors that you don’t typically see too often.
3. Plan it Around a School Event
Planning your licorice fundraiser alongside an existing school event is the single most effective way to be successful. High traffic events create a natural buying opportunity, especially with candy fundraisers because some school events can take place the whole day and people love little snacks. Great options include:
Fall festivals and carnivals
Sports games and tournaments
Movie nights or talent shows
Holiday Celebrations
School Craft Shows
Spring fairs or field days
Make sure to position your booth in a well-traveled area, near the concession stands or even close to the entrance. That way you can catch the foot traffic, and something might catch their eye.
4. Lean Into the Uniqueness of Licorice
One of the biggest benefits of a licorice-focused fundraiser is that it's memorable and different than people are used to. Use that to your advantage:
Give it a fun name - "The Licorice Lounge," "Twists for a Cause," or you could add the words “Licorice” or “Twists” to your school’s name. It adds personality and curiosity which helps bring people in.
Decorate your booth - this is probably the easiest, and best way to get customers’ attention. The colorful licorice will help but if you can create some cute colorful signage, it can help bring it together.
5. Get Students and Volunteers Involved
Your students and volunteers are your most powerful promoters. Kids who believe in the cause and are having fun will happily promote the fundraiser. So, If you have multiple people working at the booth, it’s always a good idea to assign clear roles just to make sure things can flow smoothly. It doesn’t have to be too complicated but at least have an adult around who people can go to if someone has any questions.
Before the event kicks off, be sure to take a few minutes to bring everyone up to speed on the fundraiser details. Make sure they know all the licorice flavors that you offer, what each item costs, and most importantly, what the fundraiser is raising money for. When a volunteer can specifically tell a customer what the money will go towards, it can make a real difference in increased sales.
Now that you have everyone up to date and ready to go, it’s time to have fun. Encourage your volunteers to interact with people as they walk by your booth. A friendly wave, a quick pitch or even a pleasant smile can stop potential customers in their tracks. It adds to fun, and a lot of times people might not see your booth as they walk on by.
6. Accept Multiple Payment Options
Many people no longer carry cash to school events. It’s a common trend that a lot of individuals are starting to do. They typically only have a credit card available for payment. This can hurt overall sales, and could become an issue.
Make it easy for everyone to buy by accepting multiple payment options:
- Keep a cash box stocked with small bills for change
- Use a mobile card reader, which can take some initial time to set up but could be worth it in the long run if your fundraiser runs over a longer period of time. Or if your school hosts multiple fundraisers throughout the year.
The easier it is to pay, the more you will sell.
7. Celebrate and Look Over Your Results
After the event, you will certainly have a sense of what worked or maybe even more ideas that would make it even better. Especially with different licorice flavors, you can also get an idea of what flavors sell best in your area. When people see the real impact of their effort, they'll be eager to participate again next time. Therefore, by sharing the results in an email, or a social media post wouldn’t be a bad idea.
A licorice fundraiser is more than just a candy sale. It’s a conversation starter and a genuinely fun way to raise meaningful money for your school. With the right licorice flavors, a creative booth, an energized student team, you'll find that licorice lovers are everywhere. For more information, please contact us today! They're ready to support a great cause one twist at a time.