PTSA sells Blair merchandise online

The PTSA began selling Blair merchandise online in mid-January to boost school pride and raise money. Clothing and household items with the Blazer mascot are available at CafePress.com, an online marketplace that allows users to design and sell their own products.

The PTSA has made $18 from the web site since Co-President David Ottalini launched Blair's page. He came up with the idea after speaking with parents who wanted to purchase school merchandise but said they could not access the school store, which operates only during lunchtime.

Proceeds benefit the PTSA, but Ottalini said the site is more about spirit than fundraising. "It's just a way for people to have the opportunity to buy some things to show off school pride," he said. "The PTSA is not making much money off of it at all."

Donna Beausoleil, whose son is a junior, purchased a Blair sweatshirt and a baby bib from the web site. She said she was impressed that CafePress.com delivered the items fewer than six days after she ordered them. "[The] items arrived in record time," she said.

Carole O'Toole, whose daughter is a sophomore, found the web site helpful because she has trouble getting to Blair when the school store is open. "I thought the merchandise presentation online was great and a terrific way to shop," she said.

Ottalini emphasized that while the web site provides another way to buy Blair merchandise, the PTSA does not intend to compete with the school store.

Abigail Holmes, sponsor of the school store, said that the PTSA project does not interfere with the school store. "Business at the school store is not affected at all by CafePress because the majority of the money that comes in [to the school store] is from food and drink sales," she explained.

Holmes added that through CafePress.com, the PTSA can sell apparel and household items that do not sell well at the school store. "I am very glad that the PTSA is selling Blair items," she said. Ottalini said he would like to involve students in running Blair's page on CafePress.com.

Ottalini said that using CafePress.com is cost-effective because the company manufactures items per order and does not charge to maintain Blair's page.

In addition to T-shirts, golf shirts, sweatshirts and coasters, the web site also offers a "classic thong" displaying the Blazer, which Ottalini said he never selected. "That shouldn't be there," he said. "It is totally unintentional."

Blair's page on CafePress.com is located here.