Fundraising groups are always looking for ways to raise more money, however they are frequently restricted in nature. The cost for many fundraisers of sourcing and equipping a concession stand is beyond them, however where there is a regular campaign of attending fairs, running charity events and visiting shows then the cost-benefit calculation should be looked at.

Concession stands are highly profitable and generate high mark up on the raw materials used, notably food. This provides an excellent opportunity for fundraisers to combine their low overhead (zero labor costs) with a high margin product (food) which is in high demand.
This is a win-win situation.

The issue becomes how to go about establishing a concessionary “business” – we call it a business because though your motive is not to make a profit, you are still looking to ensure that there is a surplus of funds over the initial investment and cost of materials used. From this perspective, many of the practical business issues still apply to your fundraising.

What Kind of Concession Stand
You can start with a simple table and sell lemonade (kids do this all the time) or you can establish a mobile trailer which is fully equipped and capable of competing with any competitor. This is a key issue for you to decide upon, because there will be competition for your business. Even if you have a no frills approach to offering food, you must understand that food retailing, especially fast food, is a highly competitive affair.

People are picky about the food they eat and where and who they buy it from – do not take it for granted that just because you are doing this for a good cause that the general public will give you their money.

Tips on Running a Concession Stand
Bear in mind that you should be looking to give the customer what they want and at a price which is competitive and covers your own overheads.
Look at the following for help:

1. Offer a variety of food but it is usually best to stick to a main theme, for instance burgers and hotdogs, but not burgers and ice cream;

2. Stock up on fast “edibles” such as chips, nachos, peanuts, pickles, popcorn, chewing gum and candy;

3. Drinks and beverages – don’t forget to offer a range of drinks from canned soda through to coffee if you can;

4. Minimize the price – customers are highly sensitive to food prices and especially if they have a choice;

5. Organize the labor – appoint one supervisor and let them manage the team of labor volunteers – where necessary, establish shifts of teams to man the stand;

6. Save costs and maximize utility – approach other fundraising groups to see if they will share the cost of establishing the concession stand and the resources to and labor to make it successful;

7. Secure and manage your stock – as tempting as it may be, do not let your fundraisers dip into the stock at will. You need to manage the stock carefully because it represents a significant cost to your group and also lost revenue opportunity.

Author Bio: Author Ronald Harry is an expert on food and business. Let Custom Concessions help you with your concession needs. They can be found online at www.customconcessions.com.

Category: Business
Keywords: concessions, food festival, food, concession trailers, fundraising, non-profit