School fundraising drives just got a lot hipper.
Close Buy, a Portland, Maine-based catalog, forgoes standard wares such as wrapping paper and popcorn to showcase pencils that turn into potted plants and old fleece jackets repurposed as tablet cases. The goal is to feature independently made goods from across New England to benefit schools in the six states.
"The money stays in the local economy and in the school system," said Masey Kaplan, who founded Close Buy in 2010 to help Maine communities. "It is more of a personal connection."
This fall 30 different Bay State small businesses will be featured in the booklet, with nearly a half dozen local schools, from Kingston to Beverly, signed on for their fundraising drives.
Taza chocolates, Dancing Deer Baking Co. and EH Chocolatier are among the better-known companies taking part, but Kaplan's collection includes up-and-coming products such as Sprout pencils by Cambridge-based Democratech, technology cases by Arlington company ReFleece, and educational games and stories by Boston-based Gryphon Design Collective.
For Mario Bollini, CEO of Democratech, Close Buy helps get the word out about his product.
"I think they combine a really broad network that is genuinely hard for startups and designers to reach," said Bollini.
Bollini and his colleagues created Sprout in 2012 as a project for their graduate class at MIT. The quirky product serves a dual purpose, first as a writing utensil, then as seeds to produce a windowsill garden of flowers or herbs.
Jennifer Feller, co-founder of ReFleece, said the catalog appeals to her both as a businesswoman and a parent.
"I never thought about where things came from. They came from a store," said Feller, a mother of two, about her own childhood fundraising experiences. "Our kids are much more aware."
"It feels very empowering when you go spend your money when you know it's going to your neighbors," said Feller. "You are making things better."
The price of products runs the gamut from $14 for a single box of Stonewall Kitchen whoopee pie mix to $150 for a canvas tote by Nantucket Bagg.
Parent Rosemarie Simeone, co-president of the PTO at Hannah Elementary School in Beverly, told the Herald prices are higher than other catalogs, but the local links help justify the cost.
"It is a huge selling point that is a New England fundraiser," said Simeone.
Schools also pocket 30 percent of the profits.
Go to closebuycatalog.com to learn more.
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