Customer Service

Clements High School
Sugar Land, TX

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraiser?

A:  The National Art Honor Society at CHS (50 students) raised over $2,500 in two weeks to fund the Art Scholarship Program and Art Show prizes.

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  "Students took orders from the color sales sheets, selling to friends, relatives, etc.  After the sales event we had a silent auction of the original pieces of art from which the ten card designs were selected.   We made another $500 from that."  Clements set an individual sales quota of 10 card packages per student and offered a sales incentive of various art supplies to top sellers.

"Mountain Color is fast, efficient, and accurate.  The cards we've sold are beautiful!" - Gail Waterman, Art Teacher, Clements High School

Kettering High School
Detroit, MI

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraiser?

A:  The Fine Arts Department at Kettering HS, Detroit, MI raised $500 to fund supplies and field trips.  25 students and their teacher sold the card packages for a period of one month.

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  "We displayed cards in the office and at the PTA conference, announced [the sale of cards] on the PA, and had students take order forms to over 100 staff members.  I [Terrell] also sold from order forms at my church.  Our Deca teacher, who supervises a student-run store, bought several packs which he opened and then resold individually.  One teacher bought ten packages to use as Christmas gifts."
    The students also set up a sales table and sold cards at school events.   As a sales incentive, Terrell offered a pizza party for all who sold cards, as well as points towards their grade.

"Hurrah!  No more candy sales.  This is a sale which is truly educational in every way." - Michaela Terrell, Art Teacher, Kettering High School

La Canada High School
La Canada, CA

the La Canada HS Artists

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraisers?

A:  The La Canada Fine Art Department has raised over $2,100 (the amount keeps growing thanks to reorders) to benefit the Fred Stuhr Memorial Scholarship and to supplement an upcoming field trip to the Santa Fe art community.  The fall fundraiser was such a success that a Valentine's Day promotion was planned as well.  30-60 students participated in the sales efforts.   "These talented and ambitious students have found their way into the most prestigious art schools in the country and begin their training here in a progressive, energetic and enervating program."

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  "Karen Mealiffe's Advanced Art students are learning first hand how their art can be transformed into a money making venture!"  Students sold from the full color order forms provided by Mountain Color, taking orders to be filled in approximately 2 weeks.  Some parents took order forms to work for a day, and many artists purchased packages of only their design.   They also had a local store carry the variety packages.

"By far the easiest fundraiser I've been involved with!  You folks are great.  It is a pleasure to do business with you.   You have met every deadline we have put you under." - Noralyn Peterson, Fundraiser Coordinator, La Canada High School

Live Oak High School
Watson, LA

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraiser?

A:  The Live Oak High School/YACA club (28 participants) has currently raised over $975 to fund the purchase of a pottery kiln for the art department.

Q:  How did you choose the card designs?

A:  "With 144 art students, it was difficult to decide whose artwork would appear on the cards.  Our school held an art show and an impartial judge chose the top ten works to be submitted to Mountain Color."

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  The students at Live Oak HS used a variety of sales methods, including selling door-to-door from order forms for future delivery, having parents take order forms to work for a day and promoting their cards with a display in the main office.  All of the artists purchased numerous card packages of only their design.  They also advertised the cards in their school newsletter.

"Students were extremely excited about their artwork being 'in print.'  They took the initiative to sell their cards to teachers, staff and parents." - Shereen Purvis, Art Teacher, Live Oak High School

NOA Art Studio
San Juan, PR

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraiser?

A:  The NOA Art Studio, comprised of 45 students (age 8 through adult), raised over $1,200 in approximately two weeks to fund art materials and supplies.  The ten card designs were chosen by a secret panel of judges, all artists and teachers.

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  The Studio held a Christmas Card Exhibition at the San Patricio Plaza.  The exhibition featured all the works submitted, including the winning designs, and card packages for sale.  In preparation for the evening, Director Maritza Noa issued a press release to the local papers, which prompted an article with card images in the San Juan Star.  "People were calling me, and parents were knocking on my door early in the morning saying, 'We want to buy cards!'"  The newspaper article caught the attention of a local TV channel, which aired an interview with Noa and her students.  "The students thought it was a night at the Oscars!"

    "This was a fantastic event for the students of the NOA Art Studio!  ...the exhibition of their original artwork, and selling [the card packages] so successfully was an experience they will remember forever.
    The parents could not say enough about the quality of printing, and the brilliant bold colors in which their children's designs were reproduced.  This event established very proud parents and also encouraged students to continue their efforts in creating more challenging art, looking for new ground and reaching the best in them." - Maritza Noa, Director, NOA Art Studio

Strack Intermediate School
Spring, TX

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraiser?

A:  The Strack Intermediate School Art Department (475 6-8 graders) raised $1,200 in 5 days to purchase computer/technology for their program.

Q:  How did you choose the card designs?

A:  "We used artwork created by students for class assignments.  The selection of artwork was made into a contest.  Our advanced art students voted on the work to be used on the note cards.  We kept the results of the contest a secret to heighten the suspense of the fundraiser.   Eventually the news of the 'winners' became public when we created a display board featuring pictures of the individual artists along with a sample card."

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  Students sold from the full color order forms provided by Mountain Color, taking orders to be filled in approximately 2 weeks.   The display board was set up in the administrative offices, in the faculty lounge, and during open house.  A sales table was set up at school events, and advertisements were featured in the school newsletter/alumni publication.  Many artists purchased packages of only their design. Administrators bought cards for personal and school use.   An individual sales quota was set at two packages per student.

"This was the easiest fundraiser that we have ever conducted in the Art Dept. at SIS!  The product sold itself.  The quality of the note cards is outstanding.  We are still hearing positive remarks about the cards weeks after the sale.  We plan to use this as our signature fundraiser in the coming years and feel that our success will escalate as our school community recognizes the quality of this fundraiser." - Cecelia Pichini, Art Department Chairperson, Strack Intermediate School

Vestal Senior High School
Vestal, NY

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraiser?

A:  The Senior Portfolio Class at VSHS (40 students) raised over $1,000 in two weeks to fund their New York City Museum Trip.

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  "Each of the 40 student artists were given a sketch book opportunity to design their holiday card.  Upon completion, the 40 artists chose the top ten favorites.  The ten favorites were sent to Mountain Color and beautiful order forms were received.  Students were given an incentive of selling ten packages to fund their $50 NYC Museum Trip fee." 
    Vestal SHS was featured in a local newspaper article and the students set up a sales table at Open House, Curriculum Night and lunch times in their gallery.   They also set up a display in the main office, and advertised in the school/alumni newsletter.

"Mountain Color has become our annual fundraising event...what better way to provide student artists with an easy, professional vehicle to promote their arts and get a great product in return." - Nikki Corgel, District Art Dept. Chairperson, Vestal Senior High School

Wallington High School
Wallington, NJ

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraiser?

A:  The Wallington High School Art Club (15 students) raised over $1,100  in a six week sales period for art supplies and a charitable donation.

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  "$1 from each set of cards was donated in memory of Gregg Nicholls, a teacher who passed away during the summer from cancer.  That money was donated in his honor to a freshman student battling leukemia.  I think that fact alone helped promote sales, even though it meant we only profited $4/set instead of $5/set.  We're still getting compliments (in March) and they were sold for the holidays!" 
    The WHS Art Club used their custom sales sheets to take orders for future delivery and also for parents to take orders from co-workers.  A sales display was set up in the main office and administrators were offered the opportunity to buy cards for personal and school use.

"This was our first fundraiser and thanks to Mountain Color it was a great success." - Paula Van Blarcom, Art Teacher, Wallington High School

Irish American Cultural Institute
Central New York Chapter

Q:  What were the highlights of your fundraiser?

A:  After making many trips to Ireland, IACI Central NY Chapter member Dr. John Comerford and his wife Sheila, the Chapter treasurer, used his scenic photographs of Ireland as cover designs for note cards.  They raised over $1,500 to help fund the group's Irish Way Scholarship Fund, Irish Connection TV Program, and Perception Series.

Q:  How did you promote sales of your variety card packages?

A:  A local newspaper article highlighted the couple's experiences while searching for their Irish roots, and told how to purchase variety card packages of photos taken on their Irish trips.  "The article touched the hearts of many people.  They cut it out, sent it to relatives, and I had people writing me from AZ, AR, and MI!," said Comerford.  Full color order forms were inserted into the Chapter newsletter and the fundraiser was featured in the National newsletter.  Comerford sold the card packages at a variety of IACI events and set up a sales booth at the Northeastern Irish Feis, held at the NY State Fairgrounds.   "I even sold them at the grocery and dry cleaners out of the back of my car!"

Comerford at the Northeastern Irish Feis

Q:  Have you experienced any residual sales?

A:  "As a matter of fact, we have.  A year after our original effort, people see me out and about and still ask me if they can order more cards.  I tell them 'of course,' and when I get home I call Mountain Color and order more!  One residual stands out from the rest however: a fellow received a card of Ballybur Castle, called Mountain Color's 800 number from the back of the card, and asked if he could order just that design.  They happily obliged, and he subsequently bought $400 worth of that design.  The best part is, they took care of the whole thing and mailed us a check for $200 (our $5 profit/package) within the month.  We never expected anything like that!"

    "In addition to adding money to our Chapter treasury, this fundraiser touched the hearts of many people.  Most Irish Americans never get to travel to Ireland, yet through these scenic photocards Ireland was brought to them." - Dr. John and Sheila Comerford, IACI CNY Chapter, Syracuse, NY