SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley-Swan High School Entrepreneur Class has launched the Blackhawk BIZ that will feature seven businesses in a Pop-up style Market Dec. 22 during the Blackhawks' home basketball game. This is an effort to provide hands-on, real-life business experience to students by giving them an introduction of what it takes to start a small business.
When SSHS Business Teacher Michele Holmes started at SSHS in the fall of 2019, she wanted to diversify the offerings for students. Missoula County Public Schools and the Office of Public Instruction promote schools creating "pathways for learning" by offering courses that build upon a specific discipline. Holmes said that is challenging to do in a small school because the schedules are so limited, however, "At the very least we get to diversify."
While attending the Business Professional Association's regional meeting, Holmes learned about the Entrepreneurship class offered in Stevensville, Montana. The students started an online store and held a market to sell their products as the end projects for the class.
After meeting Montana Chamber of Commerce representative Matt Olson, she decided to use Empowered, a curriculum sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce. Holmes used a similar curriculum when she taught Jobs for Montana Graduates at Seeley Lake Elementary. For the SSHS Entrepreneurship Class, Empowered funds the mini business projects proposed by the students as well as several other exercises.
"We are trying to empower them to take these risks without the true risk of using your own money, while encouraging that creative thought of what goes into starting a business," Holmes said.
The seven students in the class are learning the different aspects of starting a business through hands-on activities and exercises. They did market research, analyzed the cost of goods sold, looked at competitive pricing and learned how to market and brand a business.
Holmes explained one of the first challenges is coming up with an idea for a business that the owner is excited about and their customers will support. To help them shift to thinking about how others viewed their ideas, the student created a product for one of their peers after doing interviews and learning more about them.
In another exercise, they created a new toy company. Their new toy was judged to see which was the most marketable.
As part of understanding their market, the students did an exercise in garbology, the study of trash, to understand what their potential customers were consuming. They built various profiles as part of their market research.
They discussed the need to "pivot," which Holmes explained is to tweak something that isn't working. To practice this idea, they built paper airplanes that were required to fly a certain distance. Since everything was timed, it created the sense of rapid rethinking of the product to meet the end goal.
"You want to get to that point very quickly so that you don't have a lot invested in a bad idea," Holmes said.
Holmes said the entire class revolves around teamwork and integrating Empowered's foundational principles: Responsibility; integrity; knowledge; freedom; passion; opportunity; sound judgment and win-win focus.
"We are not just making a buck but doing it the right way," Holmes said.
As the culminating project students are required to create their own mini business. Each student had the freedom to come up with a business proposition that fits their interest and abilities that would be featured at a market. Six out of seven of the students chose food-based businesses. To expand their customer-base, they decided to hold the market at the home basketball game Dec. 22 and open it to the public.
"It is going to be like little pop-up stores," Holmes said. "Each will have their own table and people will get to come and purchase from them."
Instead of writing a full business plan, the students wrote a Business Model Canvass, a chart that graphically identifies components of a business plan.
"It is meant to be really flexible so you can pivot on things that don't make sense," Holmes said.
In their Business Model Canvass, the students identified their customers, highlighted market research, explained their product, outlined costs and offered their marketing strategy and branding.
Since most of the students were doing food-related businesses, they researched the licenses required for food handling. While not required in Montana, Empowered certified the students with an e-food handler certification.
The students presented their business pitch and amount they needed for a business loan in a mock "Shark Tank" Nov. 18. The three sharks, Lindey's Prime Steak House owners Mike and Jenny Lindemer and Seeley Lake Community Foundation Executive Director Claire Muller, provided feedback to each student to help fine tune their business. Holmes was excited to involve community members in the process since they are potential customers and their real-world expertise will help the students be more successful.
The Lindemers and Muller were impressed with all the proposals. They told the students to break down food costs to cost per ounce so they knew exactly how much it cost to produce. They provided input on profit margins and price structures.
"You have to price yourself to where you make a profit but you do not want to price yourself out of business," Jenny said. "You have to look at your competitors, you have to look at the ingredients, you have to look at the time you are putting in and all of that stuff."
Mike encouraged the students to collectively advertise the Blackhawk BIZ Market to get people there instead of focusing on individual promotions. This additional cost, as well as employees, utilities, maintenance or rent, are the behind-the-scene costs that businesses owns must account for along with product costs.
"The whole point is teaching these kids real life skills and understanding how to run a business and what it takes to run a business to be successful," Mike said.
Muller added experience can be a better teacher than advice. She appreciates that Holmes is orchestrating the market experience for the students.
With the oral and written feedback from the Sharks, students updated their funding requests for each business. Holmes hopes that by exposing the students to business in a "risk-free" manner, that they are encouraged to be creative in their world.
"I think this kind of education prepares them more for what they are going to face in college and in the work place," Holmes said.
The Blackhawk BIZ Market will be Wednesday, Dec. 22 from around 2:30-8 p.m. The community can support the students during the game or simply attend the Market in the SSHS cafeteria. This is a cash only market and any profit made will be kept by the student. Concessions will still be offered.
• CC Tutoring: Conner Chadwick is offering one-on-one student academic assistance. Chadwick is a sophomore and currently has a 4.0 GPA. Tutoring is available for all ages and subjects, with a specialty in math. Rate is $8 per hour. To schedule a session contact Holmes 406-677-2224 Ext. 5740.
• Patchwork Paninis: Wesley Stevenson will be serving made-to-order Panini sandwiches made with pepper jack or cheddar cheese. A bowl of tomato soup can also be added. Cheese Panini will be $4.50 or with soup for $5.50.
• Peppy Parfaits: Stephen Neusch will be offering berry parfaits made with Greek yogurt, frozen blueberries and strawberries OR frozen blackberries and raspberries, and topped with granola. They will be sold for $3.99 each.
• Swoop In for Chili: Using her father's chili recipe, Cierra Hinchey will be offering a homemade dinner to enjoy. Cheese and sour cream toppings will be available. A bowl of chili will be sold for $5.
• The-Cocoa-Bar: Aaron Jungers and Andrew Pearson are offering a premium cocoa experience. Swiss Miss Cocoa made with whole milk can be doctored up with caramel, chocolate and salted caramel drizzle, whipped topping and a candy cane. This 16-ounce drink is available for $5.
• The Traveling Pizzelle: James Hayhurst Benassi will be selling Italian cookies made from his grandmother's recipe. This authentic Italian cookie tastes like a delicious waffle cone. Available flavors include vanilla, chocolate and orange rum. Selling in packages of three for $3.50 and 6 for $5.50. Pre-orders are being accepted by calling Holmes at 406-677-2224 Ext. 5740.
Reader Comments(0)