Real jobs, real life.
Eight students at Traverse City West Junior High have been learning the ropes of merchandising, management, budgets, bookkeeping, customer service and running a cash register thanks to the Titan Store.
After a trial run, the grand opening ceremony Thursday afternoon officially launched the venture, which has been taking shape all school year. The store, open for an hour each morning plus during resource period every Friday, offers a range of Titan and West Junior High merchandise, including shirts, socks, blankets and sweat shirts. The store also sells some gum and candy.
From the start, the store has been an exercise in giving those involved skills to transition to the real world of jobs, accountability and responsibility.
"We started from the ground up,” said Jeremiah Hanson, a ninth grader who is the store's manager. "I learned more about begin a manager, it's kind of difficult bossing my peers around; I learned a lot that's going to help me in a future job.”
"It has taken a lot of time and dedication but it has been a rewarding experience,” he added.
Donations from each grade's student council as well as a donation from the Weigel Foundation defrayed the $4,500 start up cost. The foundation previously connected with the school through store advisor Joan Kroupa, a teacher at the school. When she approached them again for help with the store they again agreed to contribute again.
"We support youth,” said Ray Weigel, of the foundation's mission.
Attending the store's grand opening with his wife, Micki, Weigel enjoyed the students' enthusiasm and professionalism.
"It's all in the smile, and the pride,” he noted.
Kroupa conceived of the school store idea last spring specifically to help students build bridges to life outside of school. She visited several school stores in the area, including the ones at Central and West High Schools as well as the one at East Junior High. Last fall she interviewed students for her team, which includes both eighth and ninth graders, "hiring” those who exhibited drive, responsibility, work ethic and savvy.
Once the team was picked, the students began brainstorming. They also toured existing stores and later surveyed students at their school for guidance on what to offer.
Students cleaned, organized and painted the school's former "Time Out” room for the store and designed the layout of the space. They also sifted through ideas to stock the store on their budget, relying heavily on the survey's data.
"They had to prioritize, what would be a good thing to get now and what would be a good thing next fall,” said Kroupa. "Everybody has ideas and is so helpful.”
Cassandra Litwiller, an eighth grade student, was acknowledged by Kroupa and her peers as the dean of merchandising. Her unerring eye and feel for "salability” helped them stock the shelves. Future offerings being considered include baseball caps, visors, window clings and maybe bandannas, all with West Junior High or Titan logos.
"We looked at a whole bunch of catalogues to get ideas,” said Litwiller. "We had a certain amount of money to start with and had to decide how to spend it.”
Cale Pierce, an eighth grade student at the school, became a part of the team later in the year thanks to his dedication. Showing up to help every day to lend a hand wherever needed, Pierce is excited to see the store open for business.
"It was half done when I joined,” he said.
Pointing to the staff's devotion the project, where some show up even if it is not their day to work just in case they are needed, Kroupa also praised how much they have learned.
"They've really learned to be dependable, they've leaned to make change and they're honest, honest, honest.” she said. "They've gone from 'What do you want,' to, 'How can I help you.'”