Schoolyard Stories publishes books created by children. Schools benefits from the proceeds of selling the books, and children benefit from the activity of writing and illustrating their own book. This article focuses specifically on recipe books.
In a nutshell
Fundraising Ideas: a compilation recipe book, which can have customised covers for every child
Suitable for: schools, sporting or community groups
Profit: variable, can be from $3-$5 (or more) per book
The Product
While publishing recipe books is not necessarily a new idea, the technology provided by Schoolyard Stories makes what was once a long tedious process into a simple, online activity.
The project requires a coordinator who would be responsible for creating an online book template (with help from Schoolyard Stories) and checking the book for errors before going to print.
Students (or families) submit their recipes directly into the book online. Students can also submit photos of their food, or pictures they have drawn (of themselves or their food) to be printed alongside the recipes.
There is a personalised cover option, where each student can create their very own cover using their own artwork or photos. This personal touch helps increase sales and profits for your school community.
Cost and Pricing
The cost per book is dependent on the number of pages, whether it is colour or black and white and the quantities ordered. There is a minimum order of 50 books (although each can have a personalised cover – at no extra cost).
A standard A5 recipe book with 100 pages, colour cover and black and white pages would cost $12 if you ordered 50 copies but drops down to $9.10 per book if you ordered 100. Recipe books can be made A4 for extra cost, colour printing inside also increases the price.
Books can be sold at any price – but a reasonable price would be $15-$20, making a minimum $150 profit if you sold 50 basic books and $590 profit if you sold 100 copies.
As you make the books larger, longer and with more personalised features such as colour printing inside, the price obviously increases, potentially reducing profitability, although making special keepsakes that would be highly valued.
The publishing process
The online publishing software is easy to use, and there are videos available to guide you through the process as well as a team you can call or email for support.
The personalised covers are created online using an email link the coordinator sends to families. The coordinator can either create a basic template into which students add their own names and images, or it can be left completely blank and students given complete control to design their own covers. It costs no extra for each child to have their own individual cover.
Another cover option is a mosaic covers (no extra charge) – where each child draws an image which is shrunk and compiled into a colourful tile cover. Templates are provided on the site for children to draw their image.
A sample book will be sent on request to ensure you are satisfied with the finished product.
Once finalised, the books will take between two to four weeks to publish before being sent to the school for distribution.
Worth considering
To increase profitability, you could sell advertising space within the recipe books, or ask local businesses to sponsor the campaign in return for having their logo or details printed in the book. If you approach local restaurants and cafes, they might be willing to provide an exclusive recipe as well as some sponsorship in return for having their business promoted by the school.
The personalised covers are a great way to increase participation (and sales), and books can be ordered in any quantity (as long as there is a minimum of 50 in total).
Themed cookbooks will always do better than a random assortment of recipes, and you can ask families to submit their favourite recipes to be considered for inclusion. Ideas include:
- Christmas recipes
- Week night dinners
- Easy school lunches
- Finger food and High tea
- Multicultural recipes
- Family favourite recipes (or recipes from Grandma)
- Kids party food
- Favourite holiday food
Related article: literacy fundraisers and publishing a book of short stories
For more information
Visit the website at: http://www.schoolyardstories.com.au/index.php/site/home
Jo says
This is such a helpful post and how I wished you’d written this (er way back!) when I was putting together a school cookery book in The Philippines with a couple of other mothers. It’s great to have a list of do’s and dont’s and checks. But it’s a useful resource for other types of books too 🙂
Fundraising Mums says
Thanks Jo,
I remember a recipe book my mother helped put together (about 30 years ago) with a hand drawn cover and that had to be typed recipe by recipe on a type-writer. Things have certainly changed!