Last Tuesday, Mr. Craig Whitney’s economic class began selling smoothies in the commons during lunch and activity. Whitney wanted to bring some entrepreneurship to the class this year.
“[Selling smoothies] is basically learning economics hands on,” senior Meka Kelly said. “Economics is business, money, management, etc. and we are essentially creating our own business and learning about time management, employees, money management, marketing and business proposals.”
The idea to sell smoothies was thought of as group through class discussions and brainstorming ideas. The class rested on a company name of “Smoothie Queen.”
“Mr. Whitney started out saying a coffee bar but then as a group we started throwing out other food ideas and one thing led to another,” junior Margoth Mackey said. “We ended up with a smoothie bar instead of a coffee bar.”
The class, made up of juniors and seniors, made the smoothies in the kitchen located in the Commons and distributed them over the counter next to Jo Jo’s. Whitney and the 11 students in the class all contributed money and will be reimbursed the exact amount they paid.
“As a group we are putting in our start up cash and going out to get our ingredients in shifts,” Mackey said.
The class had to receive administration approval to sell the smoothies; however, they did not need to have a license from the health department.
“[The health department] thought of the smoothie sales as more of a school wide bake sale type thing,” Whitney said. “If we were selling more to the general public then we would have needed [a license].”
If the smoothies raise a profit, the money will go towards two charities, Women’s Safe Home and Kiva. Women’s Safe Home is an organization in Kansas City for battered women. Junior Kelly Jenks suggested Women’s Safe Home as an option because her mother Maria Jenks volunteers there. Kiva is a microfinancing firm that helps women in poor countries start their own businesses. It is currently helping people start businesses in 60 different countries with loans as a little as $25.
“The students decided which charities they wanted to give the profits to,” Whitney said. “We discussed a number of options but they wanted to help other women first and foremost.”
They will continue to sell the smoothies every Tuesday and Thursday. Each 16 oz. smoothie costs $3 and an average of three different flavors will be made during each sale. Depending on how the sales go, the class may or may not continue selling the smoothies throughout the year.
“[The main thing I want the students to take away from selling the smoothies] is a rudimentary understanding of the process on how to start a small business,” Whitney said.
The first day of sales was a success according to Mackey, with the class making a profit of $50.
“ [The first day] was way busier than I expected, Mackey said. “ It was kinda a zoo in the kitchen.”
