Express Program Toolbox
Welcome to your Express Coordinator Care Center! We are very excited to have you joining us this year. This site has been designed to help guide you through your program and provide all the tools you need. We’ve included some helpful tips and ideas to make it easier than ever!
Click on the program links below:
Documents
Find all the required documents for your Express Program.
Program Checklist
Shipping Forms
- Shipping Form D Order Phase
- Shipping Form C Additional Orders
- Shipping Form F Fix-it
Order Form
Art Instructions
Parent Product Flyer
- Parent Piece -English Version
- Parent Piece– Spanish Version
Look What’s Coming Letter
Use this letter to announce the program to families. We suggest you send it home approximately 1 week prior to sending home artwork/order packets. If you can’t copy/print the letter in color, consider copying it on brightly colored paper so that parent’s notice.
Order Tracking Spreadsheet
Promotional Posters
Announcement Templates
Use the templates below to help you make announcements
School Announcement Template– The following template can be incorporated into daily school announcements. Use it as is or modify it to suit your particular needs.
Don’t forget that we are currently running the Original Works program until __________________.
Remind your parents that now is the time to place your order. If you are interested in ordering, please bring your completed order form and payment to school no later than_________________.
If you have questions please see______________________ for additional assistance.
School Newsletter Template– The following template can be incorporated into a printed or electronic newsletter. Use it as is or modify it to suit your particular needs.
We are excited the announce that we will be partnering with Original Works art-based fundraising!
Through the program, students will create artwork that you then can have reproduced onto a variety of keepsake products. The products range from magnets to mugs and start at just $6.00.
Complete details on the program will be sent home soon. Proceeds from the program will be used to_____________. For more information on Original Works please visit their website at www.originalworks.com
Thank you for supporting this unique and creative program!
Email Template– The following template can be incorporated into an email blast. Use it as is or modify it to suit your particular needs.
Hello Family!
The due date for the Original Works orders is approaching quickly! Final orders are due on: Insert Date Here
The Original Works Program is designed to celebrate your child’s creativity, support the (insert info here) and offer personal gifts and keepsakes featuring your child’s very own artwork.
If you have not yet sent in your order now is the time to do so! Simply follow the instructions provided on the letter in the packet that was recently sent home.
We hope you will take advantage of this special program. For questions or additional information, please contact:
Coordinator Name coordinator e-mail
Thank you for supporting our fundraiser!
Image Library
We’ve developed several images for your use in promoting your program. We recommend that you hyperlink the images to our website: www.originalworks.com
(To use: Click the image, then Right click on an image, and choose “Save As”)
Video Library
To share with students:
To share with families:
About our production process:
Program Overview
Supply Box Arrives
- Read your Coordinator Guide
- Deliver the art paper & art instructions to the teachers who will oversee artwork creation
- Share the program schedule/deadlines with your teacher(s)
Program Promotion
- Build excitement and advertise your program
- Announce in your newsletter, social media, and website
- Print and hang posters and signs
- Create an eye-catching display of products
- Send “Look What’s Coming” letter home to families
Create Artwork
- Use the 8.5” x 11” art paper provided for best results
Refer to the art instructions for recommended media and tips
Label Artwork
- Use pencil when writing student name, teacher and grade on the back of the artwork, or print labels with the information
- Indicate the TOP of the artwork by putting a “T” on the back
Prepare Packets
- Make copies of the “Dear Family Letter”
- Place the “Dear Family Letter” and artwork into the pre-stuffed family envelopes
CLICK HERE to watch a quick video
Send Home
- Be sure to stay on schedule
- Send home family envelopes containing the artwork and the “Dear Family Letter”
Collect Orders
- Artwork, order form, and payment is returned to school
- You can track orders with this spreadsheet:
- Order Tracking Spreadsheet
Prepare Orders
- Tape the white order form to the back of the artwork
- Keep the yellow copy for your records
- Organize by class and grade
Ship
- Ship on schedule
- Complete Shipping Form D
- Use prepaid UPS Ship Label
- Take package to any UPS Ship Center
Supply Box
Your supply box has arrived! This box contains everything you are going to need to run a
successful program.
Your supply box contains …
- Art paper
- Coordinator Guide
- Pre-stuffed family packets (order form & brochure)
Artwork Creation
For more ideas, tips & videos CLICK HERE
It’s time to engage your students! Over the years we have found that the more excited the students are about their projects, the more excited the families will be, too.
Follow the Art Instructions to ensure a successful program. If you are unsure, please contact your Sales Representative or our Customer Service team prior to beginning artwork.
Art Instructions
Signature Template
Slight cropping can occur during reproduction. To help guide young artists we’ve created a Signature Template that you can choose to use as a guide showing students where to sign their masterpiece.
Not an Art Teacher?
No Art Teacher on staff? Is artwork created in the individual classrooms instead of during an art class? No problem! Here is the solution …
Just 15-20 minutes a day
Typically, if artwork is to be done in the classrooms, homeroom teachers set aside a 15-20 minute period each day for one week when students may create their artwork. Be sure that each teacher has a set of art instructions prior to starting their projects.
Declaring an “Art Awareness Week” at the school ties in nicely with this dedicated time period for creating the artworks. Another great time to allow for creation of the artwork is during “Spirit Week.” Usually a second week is set aside for those students who were out during the first week or need to finish
their masterpieces.
Free lesson plans available
Our Customer Care Center has a library containing many free lesson plans for you to download. These plans are designed to be simple yet creative. You can also find ideas on our Pinterest page – www.pinterest.com/originalworks
If you have a favorite lesson plan you’d like to share, please send it to groffl@originalworks.com
Additional artwork subject matter
The subject matter may reflect what the students are studying in history, science or literature. It’s easiest if each grade level has the same subject matter. Some examples:
- 1st Graders may be studying Earth Science – oceans, fish and sea life, or classifying animals into groups (birds, mammals, etc.) may be good topics.
- 3rd Graders may be covering Ecology – rain forest ecosystem, habitats, and animals may be a good direction.
- 4th Graders may be studying your state’s history or the role of industry and settlement in Social Studies – a historic event or person from your state may be the subject. Perhaps, a self-portrait dressed as a child of a specific era in your state’s history would be of interest
- 6th Graders may be covering Earth Science – oceans and marine life, weather and climate, the solar system, stars and galaxies. These make great subject matter for artwork.
Orders
Once student artwork has been completed, it is packaged along with the Dear Family Letter and sent home to families in a family packet. Remember … please stay on schedule!
1. Dear Family/Pricing Letter
- When your program was confirmed, you received an email
with your schedule and Dear Family/Pricing Letter. This letter
contains your schools custom ordering information
and pricing. - Print and copy. Use colored paper so that parents notice.
DEAR FAMILY LETTER VIDEO
2. Prepare family packets
- Place the completed artwork and Dear Family/Pricing Letter in
the pre-stuffed family packets found in your supply box. - For easy classroom distribution, place the art in the back of the packet with the student name facing out.
3. Collect orders
- Families will return artwork, order form and payment. Remember- checks are made out to the school!
- The Class Order Tracking sheet provides a convenient way to track orders by individual participant.
4. Prepare orders for shipment
- Tape the white copy of the order form to the back of each corresponding artwork. Please do not fold the tape over the edge onto the artwork.
- Only 1 order form per artwork, please. Multiple orders should be combined onto 1 form, and will be shipped together.
- Keep the yellow copy for your records.
- Organize the artwork in folders by class & grade (your finished products will be packed the same way, making for easy distribution).
5. Shipping Form D
- Complete & return with your orders.
6. Shipment
- Using the prepaid UPS label found in your supply box, send the artwork, orders, & Shipping Form D to Original Works.
- Give the package to any UPS driver OR take it to a UPS store or authorized UPS facility.
Helpful Hints
Can’t find your Dear Family Letter? Call our Customer Service Team and they will happily send another.
Recruit some volunteers or older students to help with preparing the family packets. OR Have students place their own art in the packet!
When packaging to ship, we recommend placing the artwork/orders in a large plastic bag to protect them from any weather while being shipped.
Free shipping of products
Products ship free to the school when orders reach $300 or more in wholesale value. For orders less than $300 a $25 shipping fee applies.
Product Distribution
This is the most exciting time – the keepsakes have arrived and it’s time to distribute!
Orders arrive
- Orders are shipped and will arrive at your school based on the scheduled delivery date on your program confirmation.
- Orders will be organized in the same manner that the artwork/orders were shipped to Original Works.
Coordinator’s envelope
- A white coordinator’s envelope may be included in Box # 1 of your shipment. This envelope contains any artwork that could not be processed.
Student packages
- Each package contains the child’s original artwork/order form, products ordered and care instructions.
Ceramic mugs will be labeled & packaged separately in the shipping boxes.
Recruit some help …
We recommend you recruit some volunteers to help with
the distribution process. Unpacking the keepsakes is FUN for everyone! Parents will love seeing the products made with the amazing artwork!
Offer volunteers the opportunity to purchase products at the wholesale price as a “Thank you.”
Payment
Payment is due upon receipt of invoice. Your invoice will be emailed to the billing contact listed on your confirmation.
Payments Accepted:
- Checks made payable to Original Works.
- eCheck payments are accepted from schools running programs. We do not accept eCheck payments from parents.
- Credit card payments can be made by calling the Original Works Finance dept. at 518-584-9278
Questions about your invoice or payment can be sent to: finance@originalworks.com
Additional Orders
Late and additional orders are common and we encourage you to send them to us for processing. These orders provide a great way to increase your program profits!
1. Collect Orders
- Late orders include both new orders and re-orders from families who ordered previously.
- If a family has ordered previously, artwork does not need to be re-sent, however, they must provide the order form number & description of the artwork from their original order so we can retrieve the artwork on file.
- OW will assign an order # when it arrives.
2. Shipping Form C
- Complete and send with your orders. Your first set of late/additional orders is shipped back to the school for free. Subsequent sets of orders are subject to a nominal $10 shipping fee.
Delivery dates for late/additional orders are not guaranteed for specific arrival dates.
All of your late/additional orders earn the same profit as
your primary order! Your first set of late/additional orders is shipped back to the school for free!
Promoting a “Second Chance” is a great way to increase the profits and success of your program!
Program Promotion
POSTERS UP!
Print and hang posters and signs in a prominent
area.
SAMPLES OUT!
Display product samples in a high-traffic area.
LOOK WHAT’S COMING LETTER!
Send copies of the “Look What’s Coming”
letter home.
TELL EVERYONE!
Announce the program in your school newsletter, on your school website and/or social media sites.
CREATE EXCITEMENT
If your students, families and teachers are excited, participation will increase which leads to more profits for your program.
Consider offering incentives- these don’t have to cost anything and can be fun way to everyone involved.
- Teacher Incentives. Teachers are an integral part of your fundraiser’s success. Get teachers on board with special rewards for classroom participation.
- Ice cream party of the classroom with the highest sales
- Prize Program. Prizes are a great way to motivate students and boost participation. This can be a special privilege such as front-of-the-line passes, the role of principal for a day, or a special lunch.
- Principal Involvement. If you raise $xxx the principal will kiss a pig or wearing their pajamas to school …
SET A GOAL
Are you raising funds for your art room or maybe a new playground? Communicate that and create a poster that lets everyone know how you are doing with reaching your goal.
IMAGES
We’ve developed several images for your use in promoting your program. We recommend that you hyperlink the images to our website: www.originalworks.com
Click the Image & Video Library Tab to access them.
Social Media Promotion
Social Media is a great way to create engagement and share the memories of your Original Works program.
When should your post?
The more often, the better. By capturing the start of your program you will begin to build excitement and anticipation that you can then feed as your program continues.
Use the Image Library as your resource to promote your program throughout every step of the process. When you have an approaching deadline, start your outreach no later than a week prior.
Moments to capture:
- Supply box arrival
- Artwork creation
- Product Arrival & Distribution
HASHTAGS
Use Hashtags to connect with us and the larger art teacher community!
- #OriginalWorks
- #ArtTeachersOfInstagram
- #ArtClass
- #ElementaryArt
Check out this article from PTO Today for some great tips!
Customer Service
Although we thoroughly inspect all orders before shipping, occasionally a less than perfect order gets through. We call this a “Fix It”. If it happens with one of your orders, our friendly Customer Service team is standing by to assist.
Oops … we have a “Fix It”
If your order/product meets one or more of the following criteria, then a Form F (Fix It Form) should be submitted to Original Works:
- Material defect: hole in towel, chipped tile or mug, etc.
- Incorrect product: ordered a sketchbook and received a journal.
- Improper reproduction: artwork is reproduced upside down on product.
- Missing product: you were invoiced for a product but it was not received.
Does the artwork need to be sent back to Original Works with Shipping Form F?
YES … send the artwork back if your product has:
- Color quality issue
- Image blurriness
- Incorrect image
NO … do not send the artwork back if:
- Item is missing
- Item is damaged
- Incorrect item was made
Shipping Form F
Please complete all information and return to Original Works. We’ll process your Fix It ASAP. If you are not sending in artwork, you can email the form to lawfi@originalworks.com
Did You Know?
Artwork Produced “As Is”
All artwork is reproduced “As Is.” The entire 8.5” x 11” piece of artwork is captured for your keepsakes. We do not modify, crop, or alter the artist’s creation in any way.
Please don’t ask us to erase pencil marks or artist guide lines. It is best that you do this before you send the artworks to us. They will reproduce on the final products.
We hope that you will use the paper provided in your supply box. Use bold and vibrant colors. Your subject matter should fill the entire sheet of paper. Original Works will not be responsible for redoing products produced from artwork that did not comply with our stated art instructions.
Image retention
Original Works keeps images on file for a fixed period of time:
- Fall programs – images are retained until March 1st
- Spring programs – images are retained until September 1st
If a Fix-It is submitted after one of these retention deadlines, please submit the original artwork.
HELPFUL TIP:
Set a deadline date for parents to report any issues to you. This way you can submit all Fix-its at the same time.