Student-run spirit store provides professional practice
By AMANDA TONOLI
CANFIELD
The Bird Cage – a school spirit store – has opened at Canfield High School.
The store is run by students who were responsible for renovating the space, coming up with a business plan, naming the store, electing officers and ordering merchandise.
Students work there every morning, selling Cardinal-themed apparel, accessories and school supplies.
The Bird Cage is a project stemming from the Introduction to Business class in cooperation with Junior Achievement – a program in Mahoning County dedicated to teaching students about the business world through experience – and Needles Nest, a family-owned embroidery business.
Jim Kostelic, Needles Nest owner, not only provided the means to get The Bird Cage off the ground, but also helped teach students skills pertinent to starting and maintaining a business.
Kostelic said he takes part in showing students how to price, write bills, take orders, take size information and work with people.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for Canfield students to actually run a real business while in high school,” said Sherry Creighton, business teacher at Canfield High School.
Ken English, Junior Achievement adviser, said working with an actual business allows students to get a better sense of how a business is run.
“Those kids are going to be the future, no matter what avenue they take. If they can get some good guidance that prepares them for a job in real life, we’ve done our job,” Kostelic said.
English said he enjoys seeing the sense of pride and accomplishment when the business is kicked off.