As part of their marketing class, Carmichaels Area High School students have created an in-person and online store selling a selection of items they have created themselves. Handcrafted Inc. was initiated this past September, thanks to a Business Communication class and a grant.
The students have a physical storefront in Carmichaels STEM teacher Nichole Morecraft’s classroom and a website selling the same inventory. Students are currently selling wax tarts, air fresheners, resin key chains, and custom sublimated items such as masks, keychains, socks, key fobs, phone cases, and pop sockets. The students continue to expand their list of products.
Sublimation is a process where a substance transitions from solid to a gas state without ever passing through the liquid state. This is achieved by using a printer with sublimation ink. This creates a high-quality product because it will not wash off or crack. Students are able to print out custom designs with a special ink. Then they use the heat press on a shirt or keychain that the ink turns into a gas and adheres it to the fabric.
In addition to earning credits for class, the students are also learning about finance, business management, time control, marketing, packaging, interpersonal and communication skills, as well as website design. Being part of the Handcrafted Inc. experience gives students many life skills. Students manage the website as well as the in-person store. They keep inventory on the site, take care of order fulfillment and delete and upload products to the site.
The program is funded through a grant from EdCorps. “EdCorps supports student start-up companies. My students worked to create their own products, digital art and business name. This company is 100 % student run,” Nichole says.
There are currently nineteen students in the program, and they are able to make their products in class. Nichole says, “I think this business has taught my students how the skills that they are learning all come together to create an end product that they can be proud of.”
She adds, “I could not be more impressed with this group of students’ drive and dedication to their business… watching them naturally fall into roles that suit their strengths such as website designer, finance manager, production manager, sales team, etc.” The artwork for the wax tarts was digitally designed by two virtual students, Lily Bosle and Nathaniel Bercosky. Zachary Kerik and Alec Anderson serve as production managers, Levi Krampy is the financial manager and website designer, and Amber Wolfe and Rolin Burghy form the sublimation team. The sales team is made up of Nicholas Sholtis, Austin Walker and Sara Roscoe.
Handcrafted Inc. items can be purchased at this website https://edcorps.org/shop/handcrafted-inc
