The Ultimate Guide to Launching a School Store with the 712-Piece Enhanced Startup Kit

Launching a school store can be one of the most rewarding and engaging initiatives a school takes on. Not only does it provide a fun, real-world learning experience for students, but it also serves as a powerful tool for fundraising, school spirit, and community connection. And with the right tools and support, it’s easier than ever to get started.

The 712-Piece Enhanced School Store Startup Kit from Raymond Geddes is a complete, turnkey solution for launching a successful school store from day one. Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or member of a PTO looking for an easy way to raise funds and support student engagement, this kit provides the foundation you need.

Let's break down what’s in the Enhanced Startup Kits, why Geddes is the go-to partner for school stores across the country, and how this initiative can benefit students, schools, and fundraising goals alike.

Why Start a School Store?

School stores offer a wide range of benefits that go beyond just selling school supplies. When run thoughtfully, they become powerful vehicles for student learning, leadership, fundraising, and community building. Here's why so many schools are opening stores:

Educational Value

A school store provides hands-on opportunities for students to learn real-world skills:

Math: Making change, managing prices, and tracking profits

Business: Inventory management, merchandising, marketing

Leadership: Working collaboratively, taking responsibility, and developing customer service skills

Fundraising Without the Fatigue

Forget door-to-door catalog sales and high-effort fundraisers. School stores offer ongoing, passive fundraising with items students are excited to purchase week after week - pencils, erasers, fidgets, novelty toys, and more.

School Spirit and Culture

A school store can become a hub for school pride, offering spirit wear, celebrating holidays with themed items, or providing small rewards for student achievements.

Community Engagement 

Parents love that they’re supporting the school while giving their kids a chance to make small, empowering purchases. Staff enjoy having a reward system in place. Students feel connected and involved. It’s a win all around.

What’s Inside the 712-Piece Enhanced Startup Kit?

The 712-Piece Enhanced School Store Kit is one of the most comprehensive offerings on the market. It includes everything you need to launch a vibrant, fully stocked store right out of the box:

• A broad assortment of 712 popular, kid-friendly products including:
• Novelty pencils and pens
• Erasers in fun shapes and scents
• Fidget toys and stress relievers
• Mini notebooks and stationery
• Pencil pouches and school essentials
• A display organizer to keep everything tidy and attractive
• Signage and pricing suggestions to help you market effectively
• A school store management manual, filled with expert tips on setup, operations, and student involvement

Geddes has hand-selected each item based on decades of experience working with schools. These aren’t leftover or generic office supplies—they’re proven student favorites, designed to fly off the shelves and keep kids coming back every week.

Why Choose Geddes?

Geddes isn’t just a vendor, they’re a true partner in education. With over 90 years of experience, they understand what schools need and what students love. Here's what sets them apart:

All-in-One Simplicity
Geddes kits are ready to go, so schools don't have to piece together inventory or guess what products to stock. It takes the guesswork out of starting and scaling your store.

Bulk Pricing and Value
Products are priced with school budgets in mind. The Enhanced Startup Kit provides bulk savings, so your profit margins are strong even when selling items at low student-friendly prices.

Customization and Restocking
Once your store is up and running, Geddes makes it easy to reorder by category, season, or popularity. You can mix and match inventory and respond to what your students are buying.

Expert Support
From how-to manuals to case studies and live support, Geddes offers step-by-step guidance so your store can thrive long-term.

Real Results: Success Stories from Schools

Schools around the country are seeing tangible success from Geddes-powered school stores. A few standout examples include:

Roynon Elementary (California)
Roynon turned their store into a rewards-based program where students earn “Roynon Bucks” for good behavior and effort. Geddes’ colorful and budget-friendly items were perfect for creating a store that kids were excited to visit.

East Hills and Harbor Hill Elementary (New York)
These schools used their stores to teach responsibility and money management while reinforcing positive behavior. They highlighted how Geddes’ wide variety of kid-focused items helped build excitement and participation.

High Horizons Magnet School (Connecticut)
High Horizons used their school store to strengthen student accountability and provide incentives. Geddes helped them create a structured, consistent shopping experience that students looked forward to every week.

Belle Fourche Middle School (South Dakota)
This school store became a cornerstone of their PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) initiative. Geddes products were used as rewards for students who exhibited strong social and academic behaviors.

How Your School or PTO Can Use the Store to Fundraise

One of the biggest benefits of starting a school store with a Geddes kit is its fundraising potential. Here’s how:

Sell Popular Items with Strong Margins
Most products in the kit can be sold for $1–$2, depending on your pricing model. With a markup of even 25%–50%, the profits add up quickly.

Reinvest and Expand
Use proceeds from early sales to restock popular items or expand the product mix. As your store grows, so do your fundraising opportunities.

Tie Profits to School Needs
Funds can go toward:

• Field trips
• Classroom supplies
• Technology upgrades
• Sports and extracurricular programs
• Spirit events or student celebrations

You’re not just selling supplies. You’re building better experiences for your students.

Tips for Launching a Successful School Store

Here’s how to make sure your school store becomes a lasting success:

Get Student Buy-In
Let kids help run the store. Assign roles like manager, cashier, inventory lead, or marketer. This empowers students and gives them ownership of the program.

Pick Your Schedule
Decide whether the store will be open once a week, daily, or only during certain times (like recess or lunch). Consistency helps students plan and saves time for staff.

Track Inventory and Sales
Use simple spreadsheets, POS apps, or even student-made ledgers to monitor what’s selling. This helps you make smarter restocking decisions and teaches students basic business skills.

Market the Store

• Use morning announcements
• Hang posters
• Give a sneak peek during assemblies
• Reward your first 10 customers with a bonus item

Make It Seasonal
Rotate in holiday items or themed merchandise for special events. Geddes offers seasonal bundles, too!

Long-Term Value

The most important thing to remember is that your school store is about more than selling things. It’s about teaching, inspiring, and engaging students.

With the right structure and support (like Geddes provides), your store becomes:

• A learning lab for math, business, and communication
• A tool for reinforcing positive behaviors
• A space for students to feel empowered and proud
• A steady fundraising engine for all the "extras" that make school special

If you're considering launching or upgrading your school store, the 712-Piece Enhanced Startup Kit is the ideal starting point. It’s designed to eliminate the guesswork, stock your store with proven favorites, and help you create a system that’s engaging, profitable, and easy to run.

With Geddes as your partner, you’re building a community hub that educates, rewards, and empowers students every single day.