The Central DECA store has moved to the courtyard and has upgraded to selling more than just cookies.
The Corner Store is a student based enterprise – students in business classes who were also a part of DECA were offered the opportunity to use the skills that they acquired in class to efficiently run their own business.
DECA plays a big part in the sales, by helping pitch ideas while also being a part of the staff. The profit of the sales goes to DECA in order to help them offset student fees and allow the members to have more opportunities and travel the country.
Many steps were taken for the expansion of the Corner Store. It was originally located in a small office on the third floor second side, but now they are located in the courtyard, as well as in room 326.
Senior London Dunsen helped play a big part in the move. She wrote up the business plan, pitched it, and did plenty of research to help get to the point where they are. She has been a member of DECA for three years and wanted to help continue the tradition.
DECA has sold cookies for a long time. “DECA sold cookies when my mom went here and that was in ‘98!” Dunsen said when asked over email. She wanted to help DECA while also expanding it, to help not only herself gain more experience, but also to help others who will continue the tradition in the future.
The changes were very big, so they had to promote the change a lot more.
“We have been promoting on the Corner Store Instragram and on the Central DECA Instagram to advertise the change. Plus, word of mouth marketing, word moves fast in high school,” Dunsen said.
Taylor Grennan, one of the DECA advisors along with Michaela Kavanagh, provide any help needed, but make sure that the Corner Store is student ran. Grennan doesn’t regret the change of location at all and is proud of how well the students are adjusting to the change.
“We sell out every day and sell double the amount we did last year,” Grennan said. The change of location not only helped them gain experience, but also helped the business grow.
Dunsen believes the change was good and needed to help stand for what the Corner Store was even made for, which is “…to be run like any other business and selling only cookies wouldn’t give us that same experience,” according to Dunsen.
The Corner Store had a big expansion, but they hope that future DECA students help continue the legacy. “Eventually, we will want to sell more items, such as clothing,” Grennan said.
