Kentucky FBLA Merch Vendor Opportunity
Calling all School-Based Enterprises, makers of things, and chapters looking for creative fundraising opportunities! Kentucky FBLA is exploring a new marketplace concept featuring products designed and created by our own chapters, advisers, members, and/or schools. Many of our programs have school stores, equipment, and talent that could help us bring merchandise production closer to home while creating fundraising opportunities for our local chapters.
We’re looking for partners interested in designing, producing, and delivering merchandise for sale at one or both of our State Leadership Conferences:
Middle School State Leadership Conference: date and location coming soon, late February/early March, central location to our currently active chapters
High School State Leadership Conference: April 12–14 at the Galt House, Louisville, KY
Future opportunities may include Leadership Development Camp (June) and the KACTE Summer Conference (July)
Interested? Please notify State Adviser, Sheena Searcy, with a handout-style proposal by January 8 that includes:
Conference availability: Which event(s) you can supply. High school advisers are welcome at our middle school conference and middle school advisers are welcome at the high school conference.
Product ideas and images: Include product design images and production methods (e.g., embroidery, screen printing, heat transfers, vinyl, or stickers). All merchandise must adhere to national brand guidelines; logos are available for download as well as information on colors, fonts, etc. (Brand Center - FBLA)
Pricing: Suggested retail price and cost to Kentucky FBLA, allowing both parties to benefit while providing affordable merchandise to our Kentucky FBLA family.
Minimum orders: Any minimum production requirements.
Additional details: Anything else that would help us evaluate your proposal.
Submissions will be added to the January Board of Directors meeting agenda for consideration and potential approval the following week. The goal is to feature approximately 10 products this year, with the potential to expand in future years. Ideally, we would finalize partnerships in January, offer preorders during conference registration, and provide pickup at the conferences, with a limited quantity available for on-site purchases. Final order quantities could be shared after the registration deadlines: February 1 for middle school and March 15 for high school, with delivery expected at the respective conferences.
Kentucky FBLA has offered a variety of items over the years. Recent survey suggestions have included ball caps, graduation stoles, keychains, office gear, pens, pins, pop sockets, pop up banners, quarter zips, jackets, shirts (short and long sleeve, crewnecks and hoodies), stickers, sunglasses, tablecloths, tote bags, and water bottles. We’re especially interested in items that have been popular in the past or that would introduce something new to our network of students, teachers and community supporters!
We already have new vendors ready to work with us, but we would love to keep that business within Kentucky FBLA whenever possible. This is a great opportunity to showcase the talent within our organization while creating meaningful fundraising opportunities for our chapters.
Additional opportunity: If your chapter is home to any student entrepreneurs or would like to sell or showcase non-Kentucky FBLA branded merchandise at your own booth, we had great success last year with a few students and schools who embraced the opportunity. From handmade bracelets and crochet style animals to delicious dips, fragrant blends for simmer pots and handy dish rags – entrepreneurship and sales were on display and funds were raised!
