Breck and Brooke Massey view the Power Point presentation about their business.
Well into their StapleFUN coupon book’s third year, siblings Breck and Brooke Massey talk about it with contagious enthusiasm. Breck, age 10, and Brooke, age 9, say the reasons for starting the project were to “build a successful business, offer families great deals, and raise money for schools.”
Breck got the idea for creating StapleFUN, a Denver Public Schools (DPS) fundraiser, from his dad, Drew Massey, who started a coupon book project as a student in Fort Collins. The siblings run a full-fledged business, handling advertising sales, accounting, banking, production and distribution.
“No is the first step to yes,” says Brooke about their sales strategy. With transportation provided by their dad after school and on vacation days, Breck and Brooke visit area businesses to share their sales brochure and explain the benefits of advertising. “Each year we approach over 200 businesses,” says Breck. This year, 60 area businesses chose to advertise in StapleFUN. At the end of the year, advertisers receive a hand-delivered thank you card and a small gift. Email updates keep businesses informed about the project’s fundraising status.
The pair presents a Power Point presentation at area schools when they request permission from principals to distribute the books. At the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST), Breck and Brooke spoke to a crowd of over 500 students, faculty and staff.
Breck and Brooke located a printing company offering “the best price, paper, and color” for their money. They also had a chance to watch the printing press run to see exactly how the books are made.
StapleFUN coupon books are distributed to students at 11 schools free of charge with a suggested donation of three dollars per book. A collection box is kept in each participating school office, and donations are accepted during the fall/winter semester. Coupon books are good for one year, though some coupons include an expiration date.
Last year, StapleFUN raised over $1,000 for participating schools to fund purchases and activities benefiting students. The siblings plan to “keep it going for as long as they can.” They say StapleFUN is a great learning experience that teaches them a work ethic and business skills useful in any career. Breck wants to start an engineering company someday. Brooke says her classmates call the project “really cool and impressive.”
The covers feature new artwork drawn by Breck and Brooke each year. Other than transportation and some initial help from their parents with the sales brochure, the kids manage on their own and say they are “very proud” of the project.
For information, email StapleFUN@outlook.com.
