Introduction to the Linn-Mar School Store, Coming Fall 2014

2. BACKGROUND
• RETAIL STORE EMBEDDED INTO A CLASS, BEGINNING SPRING 2014
• 4TH QUARTER ONLY, ONE CLASS
• CO-TAUGHT BY BRENT HENRY & COREY BRINKMEYER
•
WITH ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM DANA LAMPE, KATHY LARSON, BILL HOEFLE
•
ENABLING STUDENTS TO SHOW/MODEL WHAT THEY’VE LEARNED IN OUR CLASSES
• WILL SERVE AS THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT’S CAPSTONE CLASS

3. ANTICIPATED PRODUCTS
• LICENSED-BRANDED APPAREL
• NIKE, UNDER ARMOUR, ADIDAS, COLUMBIA, NORTH FACE
• ACTIVITY-SPECIFIC TSHIRTS & APPAREL
• CAMELBAK WATER BOTTLES
• COFFEE TUMBLERS
• BLANKETS & STADIUM SEATS
• LETTERMAN JACKETS
• SCHOOL SUPPLIES

4. INITIAL CLASS
• DEVELOP THE BUSINESS PLAN
• DECIDE ON THE STORE’S NAME AND BRANDING
• DO MARKET RESEARCH WITH STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY
• DETERMINE PRODUCT MIX
• DEVELOP ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH VENDORS
• MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT STRUCTURE, RULES, START-UP PURCHASES

5. SUMMER 2014
• BEGIN PURCHASING
• EQUIPMENT & FIXTURES
• PRODUCT TO BE SOLD
• IF PHYSICAL LOCATION IS AVAILABLE (SECTION OF UPPER COMMONS)
• BEGIN STORE LAYOUT, DECORATION
• BE READY TO SELL DURING REGISTRATION PERIOD

6. CLASSES STARTING NEXT FALL
• CLASS FORMAT CHANGED TO A SEMESTER
• STUDENTS DETERMINED BY PREVIOUS BUSINESS CLASSES TAKEN, APPLICATION PROCESS
• ASSUMING A PHYSICAL LOCATION IS AVAILABLE
• DETERMINE STAFFING NEEDS & RESPONSIBILITIES, HOURS OF OPERATION, DAYS OF OPERATION
• BEGIN BETA-TESTING ONLINE IN ADDITION TO THE BRICK & MORTAR STORE

7. STUDENT BENEFITS
• VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE, EARNING CREDIT
• NETWORKING
• CUSTOMER SERVICE
• MERCHANDISING & PROMOTIONS…STUDENTS WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THE MARKETING/ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRACK
• ACCOUNTING & FINANCIAL REPORTING…STUDENTS WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THE ACCOUNTING TRACK
• ENHANCE DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
• ENHANCE PROBLEM-SOLVING AND CRITICAL-THINKING SKILLS

8. LOCATIONS TO USE AS A GUIDE
• HIGH SCHOOLS
• CR WASHINGTON
• CR PRAIRIE
• LOCAL SMALL COLLEGES
• KIRKWOOD
• MT. MERCY
• CORNELL
• COE?
• OTHER
• DES MOINES DOWLING

10. FUNDING INITIAL EXPENSES
• YET TO BE DETERMINED
• OPTIONS WE POTENTIALLY PLAN ON EXPLORING
• HIGH SCHOOL BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
•
JEFF SET ASIDE SOME MONEY THIS YEAR FOR US
• FOUNDATION
• BOOSTER CLUB
• KICKSTARTER.COM

11. OBTAINING EQUIPMENT
• PURCHASE POS SYSTEM & ASSOCIATED ACCESSORIES
•
IPAD, CC SCANNER, REGISTER, RECEIPT PRINTER
• RECYCLE FIXTURES FROM LOCAL RETAILERS
•
JILL ACKERMAN, MARION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
• VENDOR-SPECIFIC DISPLAYS & FIXTURES
• CUSTOM-BUILT DISPLAYS
•
INDUSTRIAL TECH DEPARTMENT
• OTHER OPTIONS
•
CRAIGSLIST, GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALES, GARAGE SALES/AUCTIONS

12. FUTURE PLANS
• WITH HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PLANS IN THE WORKS
• BUILD-TO-DESIRE SPACE
• WORK WITH CLUBS, TEAMS, ORGANIZATIONS
• CREATE T-SHIRT DESIGNS
• MARKET AND SELL SHIRTS
•
DEVELOP A PROFIT-SHARING AGREEMENT
• WITH SUCCESS, LONG-TERM
• USE PROFITS TO CREATE A SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WHO GO TO COLLEGE & MAJOR IN BUSINESS
• PURCHASE A MOBILE RETAIL CART TO ENABLE SALES AT EVENTS