Why Market Days are so Great!

I recently had the opportunity to partake in Harmon High School's Market Day.  No small event!  With ten different teams of students there was plenty of food to go around, competition across the board (quality, quantity, price, promotion, and placement) and enough energy in the room to light up the whole school.

Harmon students have been working on setting up this event since the beginning of September and now the big day was finally here.  Had they made the right decision on what products to buy and sell?  Were they wise in their selection of team mates?  Had they purchased enough items to resell and meet the demands of their customers?  The answer to all of these questions and many more would soon be answered with in the next 2 ½ hours.

I must admit I was skeptical of a couple of the teams.  Teams Chilindrinas To Go and The 3 Nacho Bravos were planning to sell chilindrinas; a Mexican dish made from rice/corn shell filled with different vegetables topped with sauces and nachos with a side cup of strawberries in cream.  I’m an adult who loves vegetables and fruit!  But would high school students feel the same way I did?  Would they be willing to spend their money on vegetables and fruit?  Chilindrinas To Go and The 3 Nacho Bravos must have done their market research because they made $93.76 and $87.67 in profits respectably earning the second and third highest profit in take for the day.  

Team Los Muertos De Hambre made the highest profits earning $106.63 selling a two taco rice and beans combo meal.  Proving homemade vs. store bought might be the way to go.  Either way, students were enthusiastic at the end of the day requesting to have a second Market Day so they could improve upon the mistakes and lessons they learned throughout the process.  Some teams like the Rotella’s would do better market research so they could better gage how much product to purchase.  They ran out of food to sell during the middle of third lunch, losing the opportunity to make money during forth lunch period. 

This is why I love Market Days.  Where else can students request a micro loan, create a start up, run a business, make mistakes, apply economic principles and business lessons they have learned and walk away with profits?  NOWHERE!  This is experiential learning at it best!

 -Tiffany S.