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. 

Market Day with the Titans

This week our Youth Entrepreneurs students had the opportunity to attend Wholesale Field Trips at local businesses and to sell products for a profit at their Market Days.  I had the pleasure of attending both the Field Trip and Market Day with the students from Wichita South High School.  

We started off our week with a field trip to The Mojack.  Students learned of an opportunity that two young entrepreneurs saw a market for, and have now grown their business into a well known product line that can be found at Tractor Supply, Home Depot, and Lowe’s among others.  The students were very excited to hear how a simple idea could be turned into a profitable and fast growing business.  Students were able to see the products up close and were shown how the product is used.  Students then went to have a great lunch at Planet Sub and hear one of the owners speak about his experience owning, operating, and franchising a business.  I’m sure the students enjoyed not only the food but also the knowledge that Eric passed along!  And our final stop of the day was to Sam’s where the students were able to buy their products for Market Day!  There were many questions about, should I buy this or should I buy that, and I was looking forward to seeing how it all turned out as I went to their 1^st of two Market Days today.

I left the office hungry and looking for something super yummy on my way to South and as I entered the courtyard I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed!  There were groups with Tacos, hot dogs, BBQ, puppy chow, fried chicken, spaghetti and many many other selections.  As I went around to the groups I was surprised (as they were also) that they sold out of their products within just a few short minutes.  They were faced with the decision of what could they do tomorrow to not only sell more product but how should they adjust their prices.  Would they make more sales, which would equal more profit, or would they keep their prices the same?  I also came across a few groups who weren’t doing as well as they thought they would, and each of the groups were figuring out new ways of how to make their product stand out better tomorrow.  I’m anxiously waiting to hear how the South High Titans end their Market Day tomorrow. I have no doubt that I’ll be hearing about a lot of success stories!   

Chelsey Karlin

YE Program Coordinator