Why do you only sell bandannas online?

We know many people remember being able to pick up a Bandanna Day bandanna while out shopping, and we understand that buying online isn't always as convenient.

At present, Canteen does not have a national retail partner selling bandannas for Bandanna Day. As a charity, we need to carefully consider how we invest our resources and ensure that any fundraising activity delivers the greatest possible benefit for rangatahi impacted by cancer.

While selling through major retailers can help increase visibility, it also comes with significant costs and operational requirements. These can include large upfront stock commitments, warehousing and distribution expenses, inventory management, retailer requirements, and the financial risk of unsold stock. For a charity, these costs need to be carefully weighed against the funds ultimately raised.

Selling bandannas through our online store allows us to better manage stock levels, reduce waste, minimise overheads, and ensure more of every purchase contributes to the support services we provide for rangatahi impacted by cancer.

We're always open to exploring opportunities that could make Bandanna Day more accessible to supporters. However, any future retail partnership would need to be financially sustainable and aligned with our commitment to ensuring donations and fundraising income are used as effectively as possible.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who purchases a bandanna and supports Bandanna Day. Your support helps ensure rangatahi impacted by cancer can access the free services they need, when they need them most.