Students open mobile store at middle school
The Meyersdale Middle School now has a school store! Made possible by a grant from the Meyersdale Area Educational Fund, the mobile store offers school spirit items, school supplies and much more. The store is organized and operated by students, including Ashley Miller and Brooke Sell.
According to Mr. Craig Tresnicky, advisor, the store will be operated by students and will offer products such as school supplies, school spirit items and much more. The inventory will be based on suggestions from the student body and organizers hope to include vinyl letters and heat press to make custom T-shirts.
Tresnicky will handle communication with students and work with students on math concepts. Mrs. Tammy Hetrick, Middle School Secretary, will work with students to operate the store and track the stock and transactions.
“Store operators will be given real life applications of management, accounting, and leadership,” explained Tresnicky. “The students running the store will need to have an interest in becoming an entrepreneur or a career in marketing, management, or retail. They will learn math skills like keeping track of inventory, cost, revenue, profit and profit margins.”
Tresnicky said he has approximately 12 students involved in the setup process, but expects that number to grow as the project progresses. Taylor Pritts, Ashley Miller and Chalyce Miller are among those assisting with this new business venture.
Pritts said she is excited to be a part of this project and believes it will be a true asset to the middle school. “I would describe the store as a great, helpful opportunity. For example, you can get school necessities like pencils, highlighters, and erasers. We have items like stickers, highlighters, water bottles, erasers, finger puppets and more. We also sell T-shirts that you can customize with vinyl,” Pritts explained. “I like being involved with the store because it can help me with figuring out how to organize money and business in the future.”
Chalyce Miller called it a “one-stop shop” and believes it will not just serve a need but also serve as a means to teach and inspire. “I wanted to be involved with the Middle School Store because I would love to open a business of my own one day!”
Students have been involved in every aspect of the project, including the purchase of inventory, building the actual cart to showcase merchandise and setting a price list. The “store” held its grand opening on December 2.
According to Ashley Miller, the hours the store will be open will coincide with students’ free time. “It is being run by seventh and eighth graders during first and second lunch on Fridays. If you forgot to bring money on Friday, then Mrs. Hetrick is running it everyday during school hours.”
Tresnicky said the response by those organizing and those patronizing the Middle School Store has been overwhelmingly positive and he is excited to see it grow and thrive. “The store gives some leadership opportunities for students beyond what we currently have available. I am hoping that it will get some students interested in some future careers like marketing, sales or becoming an entrepreneur,” he added.