Every day, students from OHS are spotted lining up at the student store this year. With the doors still closed and marketing students inside bustling to get ready, the beginning of lunch is a rush.
Students work hard to keep the store running. “Our goal is always to remain at that highest level,” teacher for marketing and the student store, Jennifer Fabritius, said. Along with Fabritius, students have their own goals as well. “We’re here for the school and for the students, and we’re trying our best to bring up what people like,” senior and promotional manager Abigail Carter said.
This year, students are able to buy pizza, either hot or cold, every day. “Pizza is always a big seller,” Carter said. “We’re [selling pizza] five days a week now, so it’s selling more often,” senior and inventory manager Carson Martin said. Students can also simply heat the pizza in the microwave if cold isn’t the way to go, while still getting that one-dollar deal.
“On Fridays, it’s fun because we bundle [pizza] with a beverage, so it’s a $5 Friday,” Carter said. If a student is looking for a cheap and simple lunch, every Friday, they come to the store.
As for students’ favorite drinks, Alanis takes the lead. For a boost of energy, students love to pick up an energy drink before their next class. “I usually order six boxes a week, and they’re 12 packs, and they’re usually gone by Friday,” Martin said.
“I love seeing all the Bear Wear out in our community,” Fabritius said. Sweatshirts and hoodies are must-haves in a closet. “I would say in terms of apparel, it’s probably our sweatshirts … they’ve always seemed to sell really well,” Martin said.
Aside from sales, finding food that students will buy is tricky, but following the nutritional guidelines is even harder. “Finding new stuff that people like and kind of working around that Smart Snacks thing … it can be like a puzzle sometimes,” Martin said. As part of the school, the USDA Smart Snacks holds strict rules about selling food that follow the nutritional standards.
Although there are a variety of items, they’re not easy to put on shelves. “So we’re always open to suggestion, and … seeing what’s popping around school,” Carter said. “[The students] really do every aspect of what you would do in a small business,” Fabritius said. Whether it’s for a snack during lunch or between classes, the student store’s foods and clothes are flying off the shelves. At the same time, students working there are getting hands-on experience in marketing and customer service.
