Team apparel fundraiser vs candy and cookie-dough sales
Compare a custom apparel store with candy, cookie dough and popcorn sales: effort, upfront cost and inventory, what supporters get, and who keeps what.
By Swag31 team · Published · Updated
Side by side
Providers describe their share differently (a percentage of sales, a profit share, a markup), so we only quote what each source states and do not rank by percentage. Check current terms before you commit.
Candy, cookie-dough and popcorn sales compared with a Swag31 apparel store
Candy / cookie dough / popcorn
Custom apparel store (Swag31)
Volunteer effort
Collect orders, count, sort and hand out product
Share a link; no handling
Upfront cost / inventory
Varies by provider: some ship to buyers, some deliver in bulk to the group
$0 upfront; printed on demand, no inventory
What supporters get
Food or novelty product
Custom team apparel shipped to their home
Team share
Varies by contract. Double Good says groups keep 50% of sales with no fees or minimums; Otis Spunkmeyer's share varies by partner, so get the rate in writing
Item price minus print cost, buyer-paid shipping, card processing and a 5% platform fee; plus the Season Pass ($89 by card or $99 from first sales)
Who pays card processing
Check the provider's terms
Taken from the sale before the team's share
Reach
Mostly local buyers, depending on delivery
Anyone with the link, anywhere that ships
Pros and cons of each
Apparel store
Strengths
No order forms, cash or product to hand out.
Reaches relatives in other states.
Supporters get something they keep and wear.
Runs for as long as the store is open.
Trade-offs
Higher price per item than a tub of dough or a bag of popcorn.
Shipped, so not an instant hand-over; made-to-order items have limited returns.
The team keeps what remains after costs and fees, not a flat headline percentage.
Candy, cookie-dough and popcorn sales
Strengths
Easy to explain: everyone knows what cookie dough is.
Some providers advertise a high share of sales and few or no minimums.
Lower price points can mean more small purchases.
Trade-offs
Often needs order collection and delivery by volunteers, depending on the provider.
Food has storage, allergy and school-policy considerations.
Terms and shares vary by contract, so rates must be confirmed in writing.
When the other option is better
Your community enjoys door-to-door or hallway selling and has volunteers to sort and hand out orders.
You want low-price items that many people can say yes to quickly.
A provider's published terms give your group a share you are happy with, on the basis you are comparing.
Sources
Accessed October 2026. Provider terms change, so check each provider's current terms before you decide.