North Pike High School’s band hall will look more like a furniture store for Memorial Day on Saturday when band members will put down their instruments and try their hand at selling mattresses as part of a fundraiser.
The school will hold a mattress sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to benefit the band department.
The second annual fundraiser is sponsored through Custom Fundraising Solutions of Mississippi, which helps schools raise money through mattress sales.
North Pike High School band director Clint Boleware said the school sold 25 mattresses last year, raising $4,000.
“It’s different and it kind of gets people’s attention. We’re hoping this year we can double our sales over last year,” he said.
Brands included in the sale are Simmons Beautyrest & Beautysleep, Restonic and Southerland, Herrington said.
Josie Lewis, 14, said she thought the idea was more than just different.
“I thought it was a crazy idea, to be honest, I didn’t think it would really work because it’s such an odd thing to sell,” she said.
Lewis said even though the idea seemed bizarre, she liked it better than other fundraisers.
“I was kind of excited we weren’t selling cookie dough because we do it every year and everyone does it,” she said.
After selling two mattress sets last year, Lewis received $50 in cash for her efforts.
Fellow band member Jordan Griffin, 14, said she was excited from the get-go about selling mattresses.
“I thought it would be fun, honestly, but it was a crazy idea,” Griffin said. “It’s an easy thing to do. You’ve just got to advertise.”
Griffin said one way she advertises is through social media, while Lewis said she hands out flyers and spreads the news by word of mouth.
Boleware said the money raised last year allowed the band to buy new instruments, chairs and music stands.
Every student who makes referrals and sells a mattress will receive $25 cash per mattress, Boleware said.
Olivia Herrington, owner of Custom Fundraising Solutions of Mississippi, said among cash incentives, students are offered apparel incentives and, after 40 sets are sold by the band, the students’ names are entered in for a chance to win a pair of Beats headphones.
Herrington said the fundraiser benefits both buyers and sellers because it deals with something some people might already be in the market for as “10 percent of the population buys a mattress every year.”
“It’s a product that’s necessary, and kids don’t have to go door to door or sell anything,” she said.
Schools earn an average of $3,000 to $4,000 per fundraiser, which lasts eight hours, Herrington said, adding that the schools receive up to 60 percent profit.
“We’re just really excited to get the word out, and it can make schools thousands of dollars every day,” she said.
Herrington said even if someone isn’t in the market for a mattress, Custom Fundraising Solutions offer specialty pillows, such as cooling pillows.
“Even if someone doesn’t want to buy a bed, every purchase helps the band.
“We’re super excited to be able to support the community and the kids, and give back to local programs that are striving for excellence,” she said. “It’s really rewarding and fun to be able to give back.”
All mattress and box springs sets will be up to 50 percent off retail value, according to a Custom Fundraising Solution advertisement.
