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!

The Importance of Supporting Music Programs in Schools

Nobody doubts that having creative outlets available to students is hugely important, not only for academic performance, but for development of children as a whole. A variety of studies have been done on the impact of music on children. The results are clear. Music education is beneficial to children in a variety of ways.

· It’s more than just music. Participating in music education encourages children to use wide-ranging skillsets.

· Music has major benefits for language development. Musical training has an impact on the part of the brain used for language.

· Music affects overall intelligence. Statistics show that children involved with music have higher IQs than those who do not. Musical children also do better on tests.

· An understanding of music can help children excel in other areas. Studies show that students with knowledge of music are able to better solve problems in other areas such as math.

· Music is fun. Music education can be a great creative outlet for children.

Now it is more important than ever for schools to secure funding for music programs. With budget cuts affecting school districts across the country, music is often the first type of program to lose funding or to be cut entirely. But something can be done. You can help your local school’s music program by supporting their fundraising efforts. When a child knocks on your door or a family member asks you to buy something to help support their school, consider it, because in doing so, you are supporting so much more than just music.

New Year, New Products!

We here at Ashley Farms, Inc. hope you had a joyous holiday season and are ready to take on the New Year!

Below you will see some quick photos we did earlier this month to give you a hint of what we will be offering, but the true test is in the tasting!

Here are brief descriptions of our new products:

We take a paper thin whole grain tortilla shell and stuff it full of deliciousness, fold it over, and over one more time and what you have is the most unique new pizza item to come along in years; you really must taste it. The light flaky crisp crust makes this an instant winner. It comes in three different varieties. The original N. Y. pizza, pepperoni and cheese and the incredible mac and cheese. Each variety offers cheddar, mozzarella and provolone cheeses.

Really quite amazing, just heat and serve.

We have a graham cracker pastry shell stuffed full of marshmallow and dark chocolate. It's perfect for kids of any age! Just heat and serve.

Everyone has been looking for something "gluten free" that actually tastes good. Look no more, this might be the most elegant and delicious cake we have ever sold, and it takes a lot for us to say that. Once again, tasting is believing. You owe it to yourself to stop by and have 

a bite!

Pigs in a blanket are still the number one selling hors d'oeuvres in the country, but this is a fun take on that eternal winner. We take a great New York pretzel and wrap it around a delicious all beef mini hot dog. Another sure winner!

Classic New York pretzel sprinkled with chipotle cheese then twisted and baked, yum! We also offer just cheese for those who don't have quite the palate for the hot stuff. You don't know what you are missing!

This is another sure winner. We have been famous for our cheesecakes for over 25 years, but this is a new twist. We took three popular varieties, NY plain, Chocolate and Strawberry and enrobed them in luscious dark chocolate. 12 portions in each box.

Another variation on our already successful line of cheesecakes. Variety has always been a cornerstone of sales. This four pack consists of NY Original, Cappuccino, Black Forest Swirl, and Triple Chocolate. 4 inch cakes make for a nice presentation and a very appealing dessert.

Wow! Need we say more?

A variation on the old stand by, cupcakes- just smaller and on a stick. Always keep in mind we sell through the eyes of a child, so this is a " no brainer". We have five flavors available, but you can put together any combination you wish.

Which delicious treat are you most excited about tasting? Tell us your pick in the comments below!

Ashley Farms, Inc.

Support@AshleyFarmsInc.com

(973) 616-8877

Why Product Fundraising Works

Why is product fundraising so popular? Simply because it works. School and youth organizations raise nearly $2 billion each year in product selling. Specifically, sales through catalogs still remain as the most popular form of product selling within schools.

But just why has product fundraising been sustainable as a profitable form for schools? Here are some of the top reasons:

· Great products, great cause. You have seen the high-quality products offered at Ashley Farms. What kind of person can steer away from our cookie dough or delectable fruit pies? And don’t even get us started on that Oreo Cookies n’ Cream Cheesecake. And you won’t even feel bad about the calories, because the money is going to a non-profit organization in need.

· Engages the entire community. Think about it – school fundraisers integrate not only the sales representative and students. Product fundraisers within schools involve administrators, teachers, and parents! And in all seriousness, what kind of customer can say no to a cute little kid asking if they want one of our specialty cupcakes?

· Motivation for the kids. When students get involved in these fundraisers, it is asking them to self-motivate, enhance their interpersonal skills, and improving confidence as they approach their neighbors and other community members asking for their business. Product fundraisers usually involve some pretty cool prizes, so if they work hard enough they too can be rewarded in a special treat!

In order to make sure the fundraising moves smoothly, it is also important to remember these tips:

· Within school fundraisers, distribute catalog packets at the end of the day so that they go directly into student backpacks and not lost in their lockers or desk!

· Be specific in communicating your group’s fundraising goals.

· Start early. If you wait until the deadline of the sale date, you may become overwhelmed and feel defeated, therefore losing motivation to complete the sale goals.

· Make it easy for parents and other community members to participate. Without clear goals and objectives, the catalogs may be tossed away. Make it apparent that you are helping the community and not just selling.

Fundraising Tips

There are a lot of aspects that go into school fundraising. Having to organize and implement a fundraiser can be stressful and time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are 5 tips to help make your school fundraising run smoothly and successfully:

Make the Fundraiser Manageable

Find a fundraising company that is willing to be your partner throughout the whole process. For example, Ashley Farms offers their customers a complete computerized sales report showing the group sales and profit as well as individual student sales and profit. Small things like this can save a lot of time and eliminate a lot of stress!

Sell Usable Products

If you’re selling products that people will be able to use and benefit from, then they will be more willing to contribute to the fundraiser! Try to find items that people of all ages will be able to use or enjoy!

Make the Products Affordable

Relatives and family friends usually help the students and schools out, but some don’t want to spend too much money. Try and have a variety of products that are a variety of prices! That way those who want to spend more can and those who want to contribute a little are still able to show their support!

Include Everyone

Students like to be involved and do their part to help out, and so do parents! Try to include each age level of students in the fundraising and make sure the tasks are something they are able to handle and succeed in! That way, they will feel proud of their accomplishments!

Make the Fundraiser Important

Find something that the school or the students need and make that the focus of the fundraiser. When it’s something that is important to everyone, more consideration and time will go into selling the products by the students and parents!

What other fundraiser tips can you think of that we did not mention? Comment below to share your ideas!

Doing Your Fair Share

A team can achieve far greater things together than they can apart. In order for this to be true, it is important that every individual is doing their fair share so the group can achieve their overall goals. When each member contributes their own unique abilities and efforts, the result can be something quite incredible.

For example, here’s how Jim Messina (President of Ashley Farms) relates doing one’s fair share to a musical performance:

"Everyone must attend all of the rehearsals, have a good attitude at rehearsal, there must be group discipline, students must work on their parts at home- or in other words, show up for the performance as prepared as you can be individually. That is the definition of doing your fair share.” 

Doing ones fair share can add up to something wonderful, in the case above: a flawless performance.

The concept of doing one’s fair share can definitely be related to fundraising as well. For example, if each student participating in an Ashley Farms’ fundraiser takes a brochure, shows it to friends and family and sells at least a minimal amount of 10 items, then two goals have been reached. The student has achieved an individual goal- which adds up to a collective group goal. 

Working hard alongside others to achieve a common goal (whether it is your teammates, group members, classmates or coworkers) is a skill that will be used throughout one’s entire life. Just remember- better results can be accomplished as a team, not only the collective results but the individual results as well!