By Linda Black
Columneetza’s Grade 12 Marketing Class has just wrapped up their semester-long Junior Achievement Student Venture business.
Sol Vitra became the name of the small business operated by 12 students between September, 2012 and January, 2013.
The company’s product (coloured sunglasses) was owned and operated by the Marketing Class.
In only a few months of selling, Sol Vitra has managed to sell 653 pairs of sunglasses to students, teachers, support staff, parents, and friends, as well as to a number of small businesses in Williams Lake. To date, the amount of money that will be donated to the Hot Spot (Youth Unlimited) is approximately $3,700.
The success of Sol Vitra’s sales was made possible by the students creating their own sales techniques such as:
1. Several students developed a marketing strategy to pitch the sunglasses to two elementary schools near Columneetza.
2. Some students sold to friends, family and local businesses with which they had connections. Several students offered a bonus “sweetener” of homemade cinnamon buns to those who purchased sunglasses from them.
3. Other students teamed up to promote the product to dental offices, eyewear businesses, small convenience stores, the school board office and two additional local businesses.
Sol Vitra would like to thank the following companies for their help in reaching our fundraising goal: BMO, CIBC, TD Bank, Red Shred’s, Reforestation, Panago, K&L Trucking, Lake Town Furnishings, Scotia Bank, Williams Lake Credit Union, Save On Foods, West Fraser, Infinity Trucking, Elaine’s Natural Foods and RBC.
With the money raised the kids at the Hot Spot will now have the opportunity to enjoy hockey once again, with some new hockey sticks, a few new pool cues, several new desktop computers, plus funds to use for an after school cooking program, etc.
Thank you so much, Williams Lake, for all of your community support with this school project.
The Marketing 12 Junior Achievement Program at Columneetza is called “A Company Program-A Student Venture” and has now raised more than $6,400. in two years.
The Paws-it project last year raised approximately $2,700. while Sol Vitra has raised approximately $3,700. this year in net proceeds for two different non profit organizations in Williams Lake.
Note: Linda Black is the marketing teacher at Columneetza.
