Back to School Product Fundraising Benefits

 With school back in session, fundraising season is in full swing. At Ashley Farms, we strive to keep things simple and effective by offering tons of services that will save you time. Here are 5 reasons you should think Ashley Farms when you think fundraising.

1. 9 Sensational Brochures

From cheesecakes to cupcakes, pizzas to pretzels, Ashley Farms has got it all. We offer nine jam-packed packages for you to pick from, all loaded with delicious desserts and dinners.

2. Step By Step Instructions to Get You Going

If you are having trouble getting started, just take a look at our step by step instructions. We try to make your fundraising as successful as possible, and leading you in the right direction is a great first step.

3. Cheesecakes, Cheesecakes, and more Cheesecakes!

Ashley Farms’ main product is our legendary cheesecakes. We have been the number one cheesecake fundraiser in the country and for good reason. We offer tons of delicious flavors like the New York Original Banquet or the kid favorite Oreo Cheesecake.

4. Painless Pre-Packing System

All orders will be pre-packed and individually boxed with labels clearly indicating the child’s name and team. We will deliver your order on our own freezer trucks and you will have a pre-scheduled delivery appointment that is convenient to you.

5. Free Computer Tallying:

When your order is complete, Ashley Farms will tally your order and provide a complete computerized sales report showing the group sales and profit as well as individual student sales and profit. This makes results easy to read and easily accessible for any customer.

Ashley Farms strives to keep things simple for you, the customer. We offer plenty of helpful tools and resources in hopes that you will be satisfied when everything is said and done. Make this school year a memorable one and get started with Ashley Farms today! 

Ashley Farms: The Finest Products, The Best Service

Here at Ashley Farms we strive to stand out from other fundraising companies by providing excellent service and delicious products. There are many features about our service that help us become unlike any other fundraising company. For example, we provide “Free Computer Tally and Pre-Packing” of your fundraising products. Just simply select any of our brochures, place an order, and when your order is complete we will tally your order and provide a complete computerized sales report showing the group sales and profit as well as individual student sales and profit. All orders will then be pre-packed and individually boxed with labels clearly indicating each child’s name and team. Once this is complete we will deliver your order on our own freezer trucks on the appointed pre-scheduled delivery date that is convenient to you. We also provide incentives and do motivational presentations at schools and institutions throughout the Northeast.

Our products are the finest products in the industry, from our gourmet cheesecakes, cookie dough, pies, cupcakes, pizza, and much, much more. One of our biggest incentives is our Disney World trip giveaway! Students who sell 25 items or more get entered into our “Disney World Trip” raffle and a winner is picked shortly thereafter. The student that wins has the option of taking a 4 day, 3 night trip for four to Disney World in Orlando or $1,000 cash. This incentive will help motivate students to do the best they can when they are fundraising.

We stand by our products. We believe they are the best in the industry. We offer a money back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to reach out to us at 1-800-726-0373 or visit our website at www.ashleyfarmsinc.com.

Show Your Volunteers that you Care!

Ideas for Volunteer Appreciation

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to give back to your community and to also help others who are in need. There are numerous ways one can volunteer: they can help out at a food shelter, pick up trash in a park or ditch, take care of animals at an animal shelter, or serve food to the homeless at a local church or community center. Even taking a moment to help your elderly neighbor rake the leaves or shovel the snow goes a long way. The options and opportunities are there every day.

Volunteers are a huge part of achieving our community goals, without them giving their time, skills, and energy it would be difficult to keep the community we live in the place it is today. If you are part of a volunteer organization and would like to show your thanks to these dedicated volunteers, here are a few ways you can do just that:

Get Creative with Food or Treats!

This is a great way to show your appreciation for your volunteers because it gives them a little treat to snack on and it also lets them know that you are thankful for all of the hard work they have put in.

Sometimes it’s the Small Things that Count!

Even the smallest gift can send a big message. If you personalize a pack of gum, a stick of chapstick, or a scented candle, that is something that your volunteer will always remember.

Get Crafty!

If you would like to give them a unique gift that will save you a little money, show them you care by creating a gift for them! This will show your appreciation because the volunteer(s) will see how much thought and effort you put into each gift. 

                    

Here at Ashley Farm’s we truly appreciate everything that our volunteers do each and every day, and we find that it is very important to let these individuals know how much they mean to us. If you do not currently volunteer, we highly recommend it because it is one of the best things you can do not only for your community, but also for yourself. Just remember that even a little bit can go a long way.

Take a Walk with us on the Trail Home

Summer is finally here! This is the time of the year for camping, spending time outside, relaxing and enjoying the nice weather. Now, I know that we all love our cheesecake and other delicious desserts, but we have MORE products that are perfect for snacking on during the summer (and all year long). Featured below is our “Trail Home” line of goodies:

Nutty Fruit Mix

This mix contains a healthy mix of peanuts, banana chips, sunflower seeds, pineapples, dates, raisins, cashews, almonds and dried cranberries. This fruit mix can be transported easily and would be a perfect item if you are looking for a quick, healthy snack.

All-American Warm Dips

Having a family get together? Show them some love by serving some of our All-American Warm Dips. On the right is our Buffalo Wing Dip, which has a buttery, spicy flavor to it with a hint of blue cheese. On the left is our Bacon Blue Cheese Dip; this dip will hit you with a zip of blue cheese along with bacon pieces and just the right amount of spices.

Italian Florentine Soup

Looking for a smooth, tasty snack on a rare cool summer day? This Italian Florentine soup has the perfect blend of beans, pasta and spinach. All you have to do is add water and tomatoes if you would like.

Garlic Jalapeño Cheeseball

This cheeseball has a zesty blend of garlic, jalapeños and other Mexican spices. It also comes with two cheeseball seasoning packets and two topping packets. Just buy some crackers, and this cheeseball is bound to be a hit at any party.

Chicago-Style Popcorn

Our handmade caramel corn mixed with savory cheese popcorn will provide the ultimate sweet and salty flavor! This snack is great for any occasion.

If you would like to see the whole “Trail Home” product line, visit our website at www.ashleyfarmsinc.com. We hope you all have a fantastic summer!

End of Year Warehouse Clearance Sale!

It’s that time of the year again! 

Every year, here at Ashley Farms, we hold an annual Warehouse Sale where we sell our delicious desserts and other food items at great discounted prices. 

This year’s Warehouse Sale will be held on June 12 and 13 10:00am - 4:00pm each day, and here are some of the products that will be featured:

Cheesecake:
We are known for our delicious cheesecake, and we have many different kinds. This particular cheesecake is our Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake – it’s covered in delicious Reese’s chunks and drizzled with chocolate so you can get the perfect mix of peanut butter and chocolate in every bite.

Cookies:
Who doesn’t love cookies? At Ashley Farms, we sell a number of different kinds of cookie dough and every one will be available at the sale. Just pop the ready to bake cookie dough in the over and patiently wait to indulge in delicious cookies Ashley Farms has to offer.

Pies:
Looking for a perfect dessert after a family meal? Look no further than Ashley Farms! Our pies are made to your satisfaction, and all you have to do is put them in the oven and let the aroma fill your kitchen. Shown here is an American classic, apple pie. 

Pizza:
We sell more than just desserts! We also sell mouth-watering pizza that will make your taste buds go crazy. 

This is just a small taste of what you can expect at our Warehouse Sale. Which food items are you most interested in trying? They will all be available starting on June 12, and if you would like to see all of our products and descriptions, please visit our website. 

We hope to see you there! 

  

8 Tips to Follow When Fundraising

When it comes to fundraising, some struggle with where to start. If you are looking for a little guidance, here are eight essential tips to follow that will ease your stress and help you increase your sales. 

1. Publicize Early and Often

Getting the word out early enough is key. If you promote your fundraiser early enough, more people will become aware of it through word of mouth and by exposure to the promotion sources. One popular way of getting the word out is by having your school do an “email blast” through the PTO/Parent Organization school/group website to all of the parents telling them when and where the fundraiser is taking place. Other popular sources of promotion are newsletters, websites, outdoor signs, and the local newspaper.

2. Limit the Number of Fundraisers

More products aren’t necessarily a good thing. Some parents believe it can get to be too much and will eventually walk away from the sale. If you focus on having fewer fundraising products, people will be more apt to buy.

3. Promote the Product as a Gift

Market a product as being a great gift to a friend, loved one, or family member. Individuals prefer this because they are supporting a good cause and also buying a gift for a special someone. Our Gourmet cheesecakes, pies, and cookie dough are always great options because who doesn’t love a sweet treat every now and then?

4. Personalize the Product

Putting a slogan on your product might be helpful when it comes to selling. Adding images helps if you can add it to the slogan. It also engages the sellers and gets the parents and teachers involved.

5. Try a New Product

Try selling one of the new items in the fundraising brochure. There are many things that would strike someone’s interest in our brochures including our new products for 2014. Finding fresh, new things to sell makes a world of difference instead of focusing on selling the same items each fundraiser.

6. Switch the Timing of Your Fundraiser

Timing is everything; individuals who have changed their sale to November or early fall have seen tremendous success. It helps to have your fundraiser when others aren’t going on at the same time. 

7. Use Creative Prize Incentives

Offering prizes for selling five to ten items will increase student participation immensely. At Ashley Farms, we like to reward students for their hard work, and we do this with our Disney World Grand Prize drawing. Having incentives makes students want to work that much harder because they can get rewarded for their efforts.

8. Rethink Your Sales Approach and Sales Territory

Having a child go to a place of business and ask around for orders is actually very effective. Going to churches and the local courthouse are good options as well. You will be amazed at what power young children possess. 

Whether you use one or all of the eight tips during your next fundraiser, we hope they help you exceed your fundraising goals!

Who Loves Cheesecake? We Love Cheesecake!

Mmm…cheesecake, cheesecake, and more cheesecake. At Ashley Farms, there’s one thing that we love, and that’s our signature cheesecakes. Why? Because these beautiful desserts are the foundation of our company - not to mention they are beyond delicious! When it comes to choosing a cheesecake flavor, get your taste buds ready, because with so many varieties it can be hard to choose. From complex to plain and simple, there’s always something to try. Here are a few of our favorite cheesecake flavors:

Chocolate Symphony Cheesecake: This cheesecake sampler brings music to a chocolate lover’s ears! With three slices each of Chocolate Marble Swirl, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Truffle, and German Chocolate, this sampler is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Oreo Cookies n’ Cream Cheesecake: America’s favorite Oreo cookie meets its match with this one! Oreos are crumbled and combined with our amazing cheesecake to create an Oreo cookie lover’s dream!

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake: Everyone’s favorite peanut butter chocolate candy combined with our gourmet cheesecake - what’s better than that? This delicious cheesecake is topped with chunks of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to ignite your taste buds.

Fruit Sampler Cheesecake: Love fruit? Then this cheesecake is for you! This sampler includes three slices of four different fruits to give you a fruit-tastic variety. What fruits can you expect? Strawberry, Blueberry, Cherry and Pineapple!

Turtle Cheesecake: Who doesn’t love the great combination of caramel and chocolate? This cheesecake starts out with our classic New York cheesecake and is topped with creamy caramel, rich and gooey dark chocolate and chopped pecans. Yummy!

Is your mouth watering yet? Some of the cheesecakes listed above may sound like unusual combinations, but they make us realize that eating cheesecake will never get old. Whether you stick with a plain slice of the classic New York Cheesecake (which we offer), one topped with fruit, or a more complex concoction, the options are endless.

At Ashley Farms, we take pride in our cheesecakes, and we believe one thing is for sure: they don’t disappoint. If your group needs to raise money, an Ashley Farms cheesecake sale is the perfect vehicle to get you there - learn about or Intro Package or contact us today!

Write a Review for Ashley Farms!

At Ashley Farms our main priority is satisfying the individuals and groups we work with! We try to go above and beyond to make the fundraising process run as smoothly as possible. Any feedback from organizations we have worked with in the past, whether it is good or bad, helps improve our internal processes immensely. Please follow the instructions below to help us perfect the overall fundraising experience we offer:

Write a “Review” on our Google+ page.

1) Login to your Google Account. Sign in to Google with your email and password or Sign up for an account.

2) Search for a place to review. After you have signed in to Google, search for a place you would like to review in the Google search box.

After you have searched for a place or business of your choice, look for the “write a review” tab. Please note that both places will take you to the same place. Make sure that this is the business you would like to write the review for. If you do not see the “write a review” tab, try to make your search more specific by including the state, city or zip code. In the example below, PA was added to narrow down the search.

3) Write a review. After you have clicked on “write a review”, you will be able to rate and describe your experience. When you are finished click the “publish” tab. Congratulations you have written a review!

Write a “Review” on our Facebook page.

After you log in to your personal Facebook account, simply search for the Ashley Farms Facebook Page using the search bar at the top of the page or click this link: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyFarms

Scroll down the page until you locate the “Reviews” section on the right hand side as shown below.

Select a star rating and type a review in the text box. Once you’ve said some kind words, click the “Review” button and you’re done!

Keep Parents Involved in School Fundraising

Getting parents and students involved is the goal in order to make fundraisers successful. According to one statistic, 77% of parents think their child’s school should fundraise and want to get involved. That’s a promising statistic, and although many parents want to help as much as they can, many aren’t consistently involved. This consistency is needed, but as life continues to become more hectic, parents have turned to helping every now and then or not at all. How can this be changed?

What really matters when it comes to parental involvement is making each parent feel connected. If a solid connection is made, parents will be more willing to continue helping with their child’s future fundraisers. To create this connection, here are some tips to follow:

Give parents hard data about previous successes and accomplishments.

A steady flow of reassuring information of what you are doing and that you are accomplishing great things is what parents need. Feeding parents hard data builds the schools credibility, gives parents confidence, and makes parents happy and satisfied.

Connect with parents often.

Send parents newsletters regarding how your fundraising efforts are going or went if the fundraiser is over. Another great idea is to send letters of thanks. Keeping communication going is extremely important for top of mind awareness for being involved in future fundraising efforts.

Be personal with parents.

You should be tracking parents’ various interests and their participation with various fundraisers. Doing this allows you to tailor mailings to parents’ specific interests, and if you are able to do this, it makes parents realize: “they know me, and they care about me.”

Make it simple.

Make it easy for parents to participate. Keep meetings short and post information about the fundraiser and upcoming events in a variety of outlets – school website, community website, Facebook (social media) and in the school bulletins whenever possible. The easier you make it for parents to get information, the more likely they will be involved.

Always communicate to parents what monies are doing.

This is extremely important! More than anything, parents want to know what their time and effort is accomplishing. Tell them before they get involved, keep them updated as the fundraiser continues with your progress, and follow up when the fundraiser is over with schools success.

Whether you use one or all of these tips, we hope that the idea of keeping parents involved is of new importance. Make 2014 the year that you spread the love and start to keep parents involved for the long run!