Hi everyone!

Without going into too many boring details, my small business is an IT Service business, and while we have many different products and services, most generally revolve around IT.

There are a number of elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools around my businesses' retail location, and was curious if anyone has had any success in doing business, either with the schools or as a service to the school's students (and families) and faculty? Any feedback or stories is definitely appreciated.

I'm looking at offering more than just your standard "student or teacher discount" program. In a perfect world, I'd be offering the school a letter and/or business card sized card that could be sent home with the kids and faculty (no cost to the school, we'd handle all/any printing, obviously). Basically, I'd be offering a large discount on service and products to families and faculty, on the premise that things in this day and age are already expensive and people are having a hard enough time making ends meet.

Obviously, there would need to be some kind of proof for the individual visiting the store that they or a family member go to that school, and for secondary and post-secondary schools they have student and teacher cards, so that's not an issue, but for the elementary schools that can be a problem, which is where the business card sized card comes into play.

I think this is a great way to help students, families and faculty save money on not only day-to-day IT consumables but also the Computer Service that we all dread having to get done (usually in an emergency too, so it's unplanned/budgeted).

I was curious if anyone else had had any success in talking to or working with schools in such a manner? I'm unsure what kind of success I'll have, and I'd want to do it in a way that the school isn't "endorsing" us because I can see that being one of their major concerns.

I'm thinking the individual to open talks with is the Vice Principal (specifically in regards to elementary and secondary schools).

For clarity, I'm in Canada but I'll take any advice you might have, regardless of geographical origin.