How to Run a Successful Smencil Fundraiser For Your School Library
Looking for a fun and easy school fundraiser that students will love? Hosting a Smencil sale is a high-profit, low-effort fundraising idea perfect for school libraries, classrooms, and student clubs. In this guide, I’ll walk you through five simple steps to run a successful Smencil fundraiser, boost excitement, and maximize your sales!
Smencils—scented pencils made from recycled paper—are a fun, low-cost, and high-profit fundraising option! They’re a hit with kids, simple to sell, and perfect for raising money for your school library, classroom, or special projects.
Ready to get started? Follow these five easy steps to host a Smencil sale at your school!
Step 1: Order Your Smencils
Before you can start selling, you’ll need to stock up! Smencils come in fun scents like Juicy Apple, Mango, Bubble Gum, and Cotton Candy, and they arrive in a clear plastic tube with a cap to keep the scent fresh.
If you’re in Canada, I recommend ordering from Edge Fundraising, a family-run business that makes the process simple and efficient. They offer Smencil fundraising packs, and you can order as many as you think you can sell—you might be surprised at how fast they go!
For reference, I typically order 500 Smencils (10 buckets of 50 in various themes), and we usually sell out in just six short recess periods!
Step 2: Plan Your Smencil Sale
Timing is everything! Choose a time of year when students will be excited to shop—November and February have worked well for me.
At my school, we hold our Smencil sale during morning recess over three days, which adds up to just 1.5 hours total—super easy! If you have extra Smencils left over, consider selling them throughout the school day or using them as library rewards or classroom incentives.
💰 Pricing Tip:
Smencils cost around $50 per bucket of 50 (plus tax and shipping).
Selling them for $2.00 each keeps them affordable, but you could easily price them at $2.50 for extra profit.
Step 3: Spread the Word with Smencil Marketing
Marketing your school fundraiser is key to a successful sale! Here’s how I get the word out:
Create a fun flyer in Canva and share it with teachers, parents, and the school office. Grab the template below in my Resource Library!
Post printed flyers around the school—hallways, bulletin boards, and the library.
Make daily announcements leading up to and during the sale.
Display a few Smencils in advance so students can see (and smell!) them before the sale starts.
If this is your first Smencil sale, students might not know what they are—so get them excited!
Step 4: Hold Your Smencil Sale
It’s sale day! Here’s what I do to keep things running smoothly:
✅ Set up a Smencil scent menu so students can see what’s available and what’s sold out.
✅ Have a team of student helpers (like my awesome Grade 8 Library Squad) to take orders, count change, and answer questions.
✅ Store the Smencils in a safe place between sale days to keep them organized.
✅ Consider a pop-up sale later if you have extras left over!
Step 5: Enjoy Your Fundraising Profits!
Selling Smencils is one of the easiest school fundraisers I’ve ever done. They’re fun, simple to sell, and students LOVE them! Plus, they bring in great profits to support your school library or classroom.
If you’re looking for a stress-free, high-demand fundraising idea, give Smencils a try!
📢 What’s your favorite Smencil scent? Let me know in the comments if you’ve hosted a Smencil sale—I’d love to hear about your experience!
