Need Advice on where to setup Walmart fundraiser (Richmond, Alexandria: sales, home)

[ChocLot]

I'm hoping to get some info from VA residents ( I live in Maryland). I'd like to set up a bake sale fundraiser at Walmart close to Thanksgiving for the youth at my church for next year's summer trip. Just wondering what locations would be more receptive to buying baked goods for a fundraising effort. Stores of interest are:

Fairfax-Fair Lakes Parkway
Alexandria-Kingstowne Ctr
Woodbridge- Worth Ave
Alexandria-Richmond Hwy

Thanks in advance!

[twinmma]

Have you thought about Sterling?

[ChocLot]

Originally Posted by twinmma

Have you thought about Sterling?

For some reason, Sterling sounds far! LOL ( I live in Upper Marlboro, MD), but if the efforts will pay off, we'd definitely do it. Is that a good Walmart for the fundraising effort?

[CaliTerp07]

Why walmart? I see this kind of thing all the time outside local grocery stores, but I've never seen anyone outside walmart...

[pcity]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

Why walmart? I see this kind of thing all the time outside local grocery stores, but I've never seen anyone outside walmart...

In other areas it's common to see Boy Scout fundraisers at Walmart. I agree it's rare to see them here. Not sure why though.

To the OP, if you're in Upper Marlboro, I'd go to the Kingstowne Walmart. It's only about 5-10 minutes from the Beltway and it's extremely popular.

Richmond Highway isn't bad either, but it takes a little longer to get there, it's in a lower-income area, and it's not quite as popular as Kingstowne.

Fair Lakes would be a good option too, but I don't think it's worth it for you to go that far from MD.

[ChocLot]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

Why walmart? I see this kind of thing all the time outside local grocery stores, but I've never seen anyone outside walmart...

Hmmm......I kinda thought having it at a grocery store would be superfluous. Maybe not. I'll look into the Giant in Kingstowne.

[CaliTerp07]

As a girl scout, we always sold our cookies outside the grocery store and did well. I dunno--I'm probably stereotyping, but in my mind walmart is for people trying to pinch pennies, so I don't know how successful you'll be asking for donations.

You should sell baked goods outside the movie theater! I'm not sure if you could get management's approval, but I'd much rather spend $1 on a couple cookies than $6 on a tiny thing of popcorn before I go see a movie!

[ChristineVA]

This is just my personal opinion and I'm sure there are tons of people who will disagree. I'm funny about home made baked goods. I sort of like to have *some* inkling of where it's coming from. I know a lot of other folks feel the same way. I think bake sales do very well when done at a school, with your coworkers for a fund raiser, at a church, etc. Basically where the baked goods are baked by the same community they are selling to. I think people could be very leary of buying stuff like that (no quality controls) from an entity they aren't even familiar with or is in their communty. I think you'd be better off holding the bake sale in the community where your church is located--where people have more of a connection to you.

As for selling anything outside of Walmart, as another poster mentioned, they don't often seem the best place when looking to fundraise. It sort of cracks me up when I see kids selling candy out front when the same candy inside the store is cheaper! Girl Scout cookies are another matter--they will sell anywhere you are set up!

[ChocLot]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

This is just my personal opinion and I'm sure there are tons of people who will disagree. I'm funny about home made baked goods. I sort of like to have *some* inkling of where it's coming from. I know a lot of other folks feel the same way. I think bake sales do very well when done at a school, with your coworkers for a fund raiser, at a church, etc. Basically where the baked goods are baked by the same community they are selling to. I think people could be very leary of buying stuff like that (no quality controls) from an entity they aren't even familiar with or is in their communty. I think you'd be better off holding the bake sale in the community where your church is located--where people have more of a connection to you.

As for selling anything outside of Walmart, as another poster mentioned, they don't often seem the best place when looking to fundraise. It sort of cracks me up when I see kids selling candy out front when the same candy inside the store is cheaper! Girl Scout cookies are another matter--they will sell anywhere you are set up!

The whole home baked thing is kind of my hang-up, too. Wasn't sure how receptive folks would be to buying these type of things. I have one planned in our community, but was hoping to branch out a bit. We're a small church (less than 75 members), so our presence is not very strong here either. Maybe I should stick with the tried and true, Krispy Kreme donuts. Or maybe buy the pies, cakes etc from local bakeries and sell by the slice.

[twinmma]

The reason I mentioned the one in Sterling is b/c I have seen girl scouts selling there so it just popped in my mind.

I LOVE bake sales, lol! I am the first one to buy something at a baseball game or Walmart, or school, or church, lol!

Good luck!