Students Starting Businesses

Students Starting Businesses

Interested in tie-dyed hats? How about some goat milk soap?

Those are just two of the many entrepreneurial ideas happening in the 6th grade Alpha classroom. In fact, they’re starting their own businesses!

Starting the Entrepreneurial Project

The sixth grade began reading articles about other students in Asheville who started their own businesses. From there they categorized various businesses into those that provide a product and those that provide a service.

Once they did that, the ideas started flying. Of course, with so many ideas comes the process of narrowing down the possibilities to something concrete and specific. In fact, teachers helped students assess their talents and passions to create a business that was in line their interests and values. This part of the project certainly involved a lot of personal reflection and sharing to help students determine the best course of action for their businesses – such as to “go it alone” or to create partnerships.

student businesses

Creating a Business Plan

The next stage of the project was to generate business plans. The first step was in writing a mission statement. Students looked at Rainbow Community School’s mission statement as a starting point. They learned that a mission statement needs to be short, but also clearly communicate the goals of the business.

The Alphas went on to do market research and learn how to identify their customer base as well as looked at other businesses in Asheville that provide a similar service.

Finally, the students wrote up their business plans that included how to advertise, promote and and secure business loans. In fact, students had to present their business plans to a Loan Committee (that included parents, 6th grade teacher Jennifer and assistant Justin) to see if they would qualify for a $20 loan.

Learning from Established Businesses

In order to help students understand what it is to start a business, members of the Asheville community visited the 6th grade to share their stories. The owners of Chai Pani shared the story of its creation. Other business owners came, too. The message they wanted to drive home?

It’s important to identify your passion and to work for your dream wholeheartedly. There’s a feeling of flow and serendipity to identifying one’s dream and then taking the steps to make it happen. 

They also shared that by recognizing and using your talents, you take your place in creating a better community and world.

Highlights of Alpha Businesses

The sixth grade Alphas are thrilled about their projects. They talk about them in the mornings when they come to school, and leave filled with new ideas of how they’re going to try new products in their businesses or offer a new service. Still, others talk about their first sale. One student made business cards to advertise his company. It’s entirely possible that even after this project ends, many students will continue working on their businesses. The following are a sampling of what students are doing:

student businesses

The Spiritual Center: Maia and Sunshine’s Cleaning and Organizing Company

  • The Spiritual Center: Maia and Sunshine’s Cleaning and Organizing Company. Their mission: “Using the philosophy of Feng Shui, we organize and clean your home in order for you to have an enjoyable, energy-filled and healthy environment.”
  • Belle is selling eggs from her chickens, and compiling a cookbook of favorite family recipes. She is polishing her business plan to present to her father to secure a loan to purchase five goats. She plans to sell goat’s milk and cheese, goat milk soap and lotion at local farmer’s markets.
  • Clay and Ryan sell tie-dyed items such as fez hats, ball caps and bow ties.
  • Annika has created a business selling animal tails that attach to a belt. On the side, she’s creating posters and fliers to help promote her classmates’ businesses.
  • Pet Snaps is Ben’s pet photography business. He’s designing his own website to attract customers.
  • Hugh and Juliana have a naturally scented candle business. They make and sell the candles themselves. They have already been door-to-door in Juliana’s neighborhood selling their creations.

So many wonderful ideas!