Teachers Look to NAEIR When "Feeling The Pinch"

Considering the “cost” of NAEIR as compared to what schools and more specifically - teachers and school administrators are getting out of a NAEIR membership, it’s easy to see that NAEIR is a pretty sweet deal. In fact, it’s even more of a bargain now than it’s ever been. 

Based on surveys conducted by the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA, out of pocket spending by individual teachers gradually decreased from $552 in 2005/06 to $395 in 2007/08 and then to $356 in 2009/10. 

According to an online article entitled  “Teachers Spend $1.3 Billion Out of Pocket On Classroom Materials”  published in July of 2010 by The Journal, quoting Adrienne Watts Dayton,  Vice President of Marketing and Communications for NSSEA-  http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/07/08/teachers-spend-1.3-billion-out-of-pocket-on-classroom-materials.aspx, “Teachers are feeling the pinch just like others affected by the downturn in the economy,” . 

The statement was by way of explaining the decline during that period in out-of-pocket teacher spending for classroom supplies.  This, in spite of the availability of albeit limited funds from school budgets as well as contributions from parents and PTAs who are also being asked to ante up more toward the purchase of classroom supplies. Like most everyone these days, teachers are simply not in a position to purchase school supplies at the greater levels they have in years past.

Meanwhile, the need for classroom supplies continues to grow. 

Enter NAEIR. 

An administrative assistant at Ambrose Recreation and Park District - a NAEIR member located in Bay Point, CA, said, “I'm sure you know that with the budget crisis and school district cuts as well as our special district cuts in California, we need all the help we can get.   Office, schoolroom and craft products (from NAEIR) help a lot to cut costs on the programs. We also make use of the tools and maintenance items for the upkeep of our community center and our three parks that we oversee.”

At the Trinidad State Junior College in Alamosa, CO, Margaret Sanderson, assistant to the Dean explained, “With the college's and the state's tight budgetary constraints, it becomes more important than ever to save money where we can.”

Graduation Ceremonies at
Trinidad State Junior College,
Alamosa, CO

NAEIR helps its members do more than simply shore up their budgets, with schools averaging more than $18,000 worth of free products per year.  NAEIR is often seen as a life-saver; a real blessing to its members when it comes to saving money.

Besides the “Big Book”, Best Values, Overstock and Clearance catalog allocations, NAEIR also offers participation in a “Grab Bag,” where members can visit NAEIR’s centrally located warehouse and take advantage of additional materials on site.

What other products are members getting?

At Pine Hill Schools in Pine Hill, New Mexico, teachers receive pens, mechanical pencils, notebooks that they can give away to students, office & various educational materials for Head Start, K-12 programs, FACE (Family And Child Education) & Early Intervention, and incentives for parent involvement programs.  

Mayo School, Chicago, IL

At the Mayo school in Chicago, Illinois, NAEIR products are used “…for gifts, awards, prizes, tools and to supply the different needs of the children. The younger children especially love the variety of stickers ... Over the years, we have received from NAEIR, pens, paper, office supplies, (used by the older children) scrapbook supplies, (used in art classes and early grade levels) hats, push brooms, flashlights, lunchboxes, tools, and clothes.”

Uses for NAEIR products are truly versatile and wide-ranging.   All in all, when you consider the low membership fee, the variety of available products and often – FREE shipping, NAEIR members get a great deal of merchandise in relation to an extremely low administrative cost. 

Whether you’re a school - or if you’re a nonprofit or church organization that happens to be reading this, all of the above applies to you as well.  Give us a call at (800)-562-0955 or visit our website www.naeir.org.

If you’re with a company that’s sitting on excess, slow-moving inventory, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you. There are some attractive tax and other benefits when donating inventory and the donation process is straightforward.  We’ll explain.