Alma DECA students tops in retail, community support
Reading, writing and retail?
Yes, retail.
Alma marketing students are learning all three, while working in the school’s award-winning store, Aire-looms. The irony of the misspelled name is not lost on the students, but it’s catchy. And catchy is good if you’re in marketing.
The store is the only one of its kind in Arkansas, and one of just 42 school-based enterprises in the nation. Last year, Aire-looms won gold certification from DECA. The students’ presentation was so well-constructed, it’s listed on DECA’s Web site.
Middle school marketing teacher Ross White said it’s been quite an endeavor.
“In Arkansas, most student-enterprise stores sell candy,” White said. “Harrison sells coffee. Apparel-wise, there are not many. We’re pretty much the only complete retail store.”
In 2009, sales totaled $59,509. The biggest month was August, when Aire-looms sold more than $13,000 worth of merchandise. But even in July, when the school was closed, the store brought in $5,250.
Aire-looms opened in December 2007, just after the new 3,330 seat basketball and volleyball arena was completed. With no booster club, the school searched for a venue for Airedale apparel. Sherry Siler and her high school marketing students filled that void.
Siler is now teamed with White and his middle school students. Both teach marketing, both oversee the 150 business students in grades eight through twelve, and 120 belong to the DECA club. Not bad for a program that began in 2005.
