Key Dates to Running the Perfect Sale
Successful schools have told us they need about 4 weeks prior to school letting out for the summer to run their sale. This ensures you have enough time to connect with parents and encourage them to participate. Below is a calendar to help you put together your plan for success in 2024. There are three main sale windows for an EPI school supply program.
Main Sale
This is when you want the majority of your parents to order a pack.
Run your sale for 4 weeks before the last day of school.
If you use paper order forms, be sure to collect these prior to your website closing.
Late Order Sale
Allows parents extra time to order a pack if they missed out on the Main Sale.
Due to the short turnaround time on these orders, items may be substituted.
We suggest increasing your price during this period to motivate parents to buy in the Main Sale time frame.
Minimum of 12 packs must be ordered.
Direct-to-Parent Sale
Allows parents extra time to order a pack if they missed out on the Main Sale.
Due to the short turnaround time on these orders, items may be substituted.
We suggest increasing your price during this period to motivate parents to buy in the Main Sale time frame.
Minimum of 12 packs must be ordered.
Your Perfect Sale Key Dates
Your sale dates are determined based on your last day of school being in May or June. The timeline below shows the sale dates and deadlines based on what month your last day of school falls. You may need to adjust your sale start date and paper order form collection dates based on your actual last day of school.
| May Last Day | June Last Day | Task |
|---|---|---|
| January | January | Sign & turn in your 2024 Reservation Form. |
| Jan / Feb | Jan / Feb | Request materials to promote your sale to incoming Kindergarten parents. |
| 3/18 | 3/29 | Submit your lists for all grades. Work with your EPI representative to select the items and brands for each pack. |
| 3/27 | 4/10 | Determine your plan to promote the program to parents. EPI provides FREE marketing tools such as social media and email images and videos, posters, flyers and yard signs. |
| 4/8 | 4/19 | Approve the final school supply lists & request your delivery date*. *Delivery dates are limited and based on the date you finalize your lists. The sooner you finalize your lists, the more likely we will be able to give you your first-choice for your delivery date. |
| 4/8 | 4/19 | Determine the price parents will pay for each pack and complete the Startup Questionnaire. |
| 4/16 | 4/29 | Start promoting your sale. Send flyers home with students or share them digitally. We recommend you promote the sale at least 1x per week throughout your sale. |
| 5/15 | 5/28 | Collect paper order forms before your last day of school and email quantities by grade to your EPI representative. |
| May | June | Your last day of school. |
| 5/21 | 6/2 | Main Sale ends. Send your EPI representative quantities of offline orders. Promote your Late Order Sale at least 1x per week. |
| 5/24 | 6/5 | Promote your Late Order Sale at least 1x per week. |
| 6/16 | 6/23 | Late Order Sale ends. |
| 6/18 to 8/25 | 6/25 to 8/25 | Promote the Direct-to-Parent packs to those that missed the sale and newly registered parents. You earn 3% profit on sales during this time. (See program details for minimums) |
| July/August | July/August | Review the delivery details with your EPI representative. |
| 9/1 | 9/1 | Payment is due to EPI. View your invoice on the EPI Customer Portal. |
| 9/15 | 9/15 | Complete and submit your Return Product Form for any unsold packs. |
| 11/1 | 11/1 | EPI will send profit checks by this date if you earned a profit. |
Main Sale
This is when you want the majority of your parents to order a pack.
Run your sale for 4 weeks before the last day of school.
If you use paper order forms, be sure to collect these prior to your website closing.
Late Order Sale
Allows parents extra time to order a pack if they missed out on the Main Sale.
Due to the short turnaround time on these orders, items may be substituted.
We suggest increasing your price during this period to motivate parents to buy in the Main Sale time frame.
Minimum of 12 packs must be ordered.