What’s old is new, say Spencer middle school students learning the essentials of marketing and running a business.
Five classes of Grade 7s at the school took over the hallways for two days last week to sell products they created, using sales tactics they developed.
One group was selling jewellery made from recycled construction materials, including bracelets and rings made out of nails and necklaces they fabricated using decorated washers.
Another group were selling tie-dyed T-shirts and painted a groovy picture, with 1960s music blasting and a liquid light show setting up the psychedelic scene.
“We really think a lot of teenagers like old stuff, because it’s bringing back old stuff and making it cool again,” said student Caiden Valderrama, whose group learned to tie-dye for the project. “Our first go with T-shirts were a little rough, but then we started getting into it.”
The students in this group decided to give 75 per cent of their profits to the Langford family of Zach Downey, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.
“I learned a lot about marketing and just overall trial and error, teaching yourself how to do things, but also using other sources,” Caiden said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
The marketing project was spearheaded by Junior Achievement B.C., a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching young people about business.