The school store. A place where dozens of students go each morning to browse and buy. Whether it is to start your morning with a sugar fix or to get some proper spirit wear, the school store, or “The Den,” is the place to go. Aside from being a place of commerce, some may not know that running the store is actually an available elective you can take.

Kristie Keeler, a Business and Marketing teacher, runs the Marketing Co-Op elective. “I call it my little 7/11. It’s like running a small business on the side,” Keeler shared. The store runs very similar to a convenience store, with its snack items and pieces of merchandise. This elective gives students the opportunity to gain experience that is applicable for resumes. “They are getting real life experience,” Keeler says. This experience ranges from basic things like counting money to more in depth topics such as budgeting and inventory management. To make life easier, instead of paper and pencil or spreadsheets with numbers to manage inventory, Square is the program the class uses to both charge customers and manage inventory. The program automatically manages and updates inventory numbers, which makes it less of a headache for the kids. 

Senior Leonardo Becerra, an experienced member of the Co-Op Marketing Class, shared some thoughts. “This class is different because you don’t really have exams you have to study for. Of course you are going to have a test here and there, but this class is more of a hands-on experience. I have learned a lot about entrepreneurship, marketing terms and marketing strategies that I implement in my life almost daily.” This class could give you an edge, especially for those interested in developing a resume for their first job or future career classes. “Come join the school store, a lot of good deals, a lot of steals, but I’d say try to look into DECA”, Leonardo said. 

DECA is the co-curricular club that goes along with marketing, focusing on projects in the area of business and marketing. Many of DECA’s experiences and traveling competitions are also co-funded by the profits of the store. “Charter buses are really expensive, so we fund some of that,” Keeler said. In addition to funding travel costs, DECA scholarships are also sponsored by The Den. Most of the earnings actually go back into the school store, with this year alone costing a shocking 18,000 to 20,000 dollars to purchase clothing inventory. 

Although you might not get paid, the learning and experience you receive from this class proves more valuable than any cash you might receive. Keeler shared some final words for those who could be interested, saying, “I can tell you that it is a very active class, project based oriented, real life experience, things you will take with you”