Students at Western. Reserve run business

By christine keeling

ckeeling@vindy.com

berlin center

Instead of taking exams, some students are testing their talents in business.

Reserve Manufacturing is in its ninth year of operation at Western Reserve High School. The company gives students the opportunity to take part in all aspects of entrepreneurship and offers the public a place to purchase a variety of custom-printed and engraved items.

“It’s not a class,” said Jay Clark, the school’s industrial arts teacher. They “signed up for a job.”

Approximately 25 students in two classes fill roles as chief executive officers, accountants, production leaders, marketing directors and salespeople. They pass or fail based on profit and report to the school board.

When the class bell rang Tuesday, students got right to work. They checked to see what orders they needed to fill and began screen printing T-shirts for the school’s drama club.

They have completed orders for local pizza shops, car dealerships and other schools, and partnered with Junior Achievement and Youngstown State University.

Senior Cory Zimmerman has worked there for three years and said he learned a work ethic from his experience.

As one of its CEOs, he gets to oversee other employees, discuss pricing and help decide which jobs to take.

Although a bulk of the company’s business is from T-shirts and hoodies, a display case in the workroom highlights trophies, towels, lanyards, buttons and promotional items they have created.

Purchases from the company are tax-free for the consumer, competitively priced and come with a 100-percent customer- satisfaction guarantee, said Clark.

The business was designed to include Ohio education standards and received $8,000 from the school district to cover start-up costs. The company paid off its loan in four years and is now debt-free.

Clark said the company tries to expand to keep the business thriving.

During summer, the company used $17,000 of its profits to purchase a direct garment printer. The students project they can earn $4,000 to $5,000 this year from the purchase, because it gives them more capabilities and color options to fit clients’ needs. Their goal is to beat last year’s record-setting profit of $6,000 by $4,000.

By law, students can’t be paid during school hours for their work, but profits, if members of the company agree, can be used for employee incentives, such as pizza parties. Sometimes, local printing companies call the school looking for students to hire, said Clark.

Senior Jeff Clegg said he had no clue how to use a fax machine the first year he started at the company, but now he is its CEO and accountant.

“I like the business aspect, because my dad has a business background, and that’s what I want to do, too,” he said.

Clegg’s brother, John, started in the company this year and makes sure shirts are straight for printing.

He said he learned a lot during his first nine weeks on the job and plans to stay until he graduates but that it’s a lot more work than he expected.

To place an order or obtain a quote, call 330-547-0811.