Get Your Yearbooks Here!

Hey y'all! 

After helping with Sherwood's Yearbook Distribution we thought we post some great insights about how best to handle your own delivery and distribution. Thank you to Donna and David Hutcherson from Naples, FL for these great ideas!

When your books arrive:

• Count/confirm the total number of boxes before the delivery person leaves
• Note any damaged boxes BEFORE you sign for them
• If anything is damaged (even the boxes) do the following:
• note it on the shipping slip you sign
• take a picture of the damage  
• make sure you have a copy of your signed shipping form, even if it's a photocopy
• Secure the books/boxes in a safe, locked area, perhaps even a secret place.  

 When you first see your book:

• Enjoy the fruits of your labor!
  Advisers and staffs often get so wrapped up in checking everything out that they forget to just enjoy the book itself. We encourage you and your staff to look through the book the first time as if you had just purchased one, excited about the content and enjoying the pictures and articles. There is plenty of time for evaluation later, just remember how hard you've all worked and that you deserve to just savor the moment!

Tips for a Smooth Distribution Day:

• The distribution list is your most important tool on distribution day.                                  It serves as an indication of those who have purchased books and as a record of those who have received their books. 
•  Have the distribution list available with space for each student to sign.
• Once a student has picked up his/her book highlight their name for easy viewing of students who still need to pick up their book.

Plan ahead for the following:

• Assistance 
• Make a list of support personnel you need to assist in preparing for distribution day.
• Be sure people like the school secretary are well informed, as they will probably field a lot of calls as distribution draws near.  
• Distribution plan
• Diagram your plan for distributing books; know how you want students to proceed through the distribution process.
• Will students come to pick up their books in one central area, or will the books go to classrooms during the day?
• If they go to one place, will they be called randomly or by grade?
• Will you need posters/signs for directions/instructions?
• Supplies:
• Tables and chairs? 
• Carts to transport boxes of books?
• Trash cans for waste paper and wrappings?
• Extra copies of distribution lists
• Notepads, pencils, markers, tape, sharpies, highlighters, etc
• Getting the word out:
• school website, Facebook, etc.
• teacher/student email
• automatic phone calls
• daily announcements
• PTA or school newsletters
• student newspaper
• Problems:
• Plan ahead for problems and have one person in charge of that task
• Have an extra table open for problems (students not on distribution list, etc.)
•  FUN!
• Don’t forget to have fun!
• Have music playing loud enough to be heard by everyone, but not to interfere with their talking/book signing.
• Refreshments: consider this for a money-maker but remember it requires more planning and cleanup.
• Prizes: distribute door prizes or give away free book covers, autograph supplements or namestamping for next year.
• Sell gel pens or glitter pens especially if you have darkly printed endsheets

Brainstorm these ideas NOW with your staff - come up with great ideas and maybe even make some money! Check our YouTube channel for video of how Sherwood High does their distribution.