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February 16, 2012

Students turn into entrepreneurs

BY MICHELLE MILLER

STAFF WRITER

Cooperstown Central School students were all about business on Sunday as they hosted a “flea market” style marketplace in the middle/high school gymnasium.

It marked the third year that students have come up with their own services or products to sell as part of an innovative after-school educational program for youth called TREP$. The marketplace is an end product of a six-week entrepreneurship education program offered by the district’s Parent Teacher Organization.

On Monday, students gathered for the last workshop to learn how successful their businesses were and what they could possibly do next year to improve the marketplace.  “It is great if you can make somemoney, but the whole purpose is to learn,” TREP$ Chairwoman Carina Franck said.

According to workshop facilitator Rebecca Stone, profits were not as good as last year, but there were more businesses. There were 39 businesses represented at the marketplace, which generated a total profit of $2,408.93. Last year’s profits totaled $3,226.

Merchandise on display this year ranged from jewelry, to homemade treats to items made from recycled products.

Sixth-grader Nick Sharratt used  a glass cutting kit to transform glassbottles into drinking glasses, vases and candle holders. The first-time TREP$ participant said he came up with the idea when he saw similar products at the Tin Bin Alley on Main Street in the village. “I told myself I could do something like that,” he said. Sharratt said he sold about  half of his 60 products beforethe marketplace was even half over.

“I’ve learned that it takes a lot of effort to run a business even if it is a small one,” he said.

Sixth-graders Bethany Robinson and Natalie Shieber sold out of their totes they sewed out of recycled pet food bags. The girls started taking orders once they ran out.

They were only able to make 10 bags, in two sizes – big and small, because of difficulties. Robinson’s mother said a regular sewing machine just was not doing the job and the girls would have to invest in a heavy duty machine to complete the orders.

The girls said it was their first time participating in TREP$ and they did not know what to expect. Robinson said she plans to offer the same products again next year, but Shieber said she wants to try something new.

Also reusing an item to make other products were seventh-graders Leland Morris and Ethan Russell. This marked the second year the two boys made a variety of items such as clocks, bowls, and platters out of vinyl. They said they added jewelry, mirrors and coasters to the mix this year.

When asked why they got involved in TREP$ Morris said they wanted to make “a little bit of money,” and thought it would be interesting to operate their own business.

“We both like music and wanted to think of something cool that went along with music and this seemed like the thing,” added Russell.

The boys said they profited about $300 last year and  hoped to do even better thisyear. They said they had some product left over from the last marketplace. According to Russell, they purchase their vinyl on Ebay, at the Salvation Army and had some lying around at home.

First-time TREP$ participant Lizzy Falk said she also used Ebay to purchase her silverware used to make wind chimes she had for sale at the market place. The sixth-grader said she wanted to stick with a “go green” theme when deciding what product to offer. She said she sold 20 of her 41 chimes midway through the marketplace. She was selling her creations for $8.

Falk said she spent about three weeks making the wind chimes. She said she plans to participate in the marketplace again next year, but is unsure if she will be making the same product. “I learned if you try to do something you can do it,” she said.

This marked the third year Margie Knight and Sylvia Johnson sold homemade earrings together at the marketplace.

The eighth-graders said it has become a hobby for them and they don’t just limit their sales to the TREP$ marketplace. Their products are also sold in local shops such as The Tin Bin Alley, The Barnyard Swing, Riverwood and the Fly Creek General Store.

“We do it more for the fun than anything else,” Johnson said.

Seventh-grader Amanda Lionette attracted the younger generation to her booth selling Goofy Goo, a Silly Putty-type substance. “It is fun to play with,” Lionette said. “I sold out last year, but made more this year.”

This was the second year Lionette has participated in TREP$. She said she made about $60 in profits last year and had 78 containers for sale at the marketplace this year. When asked how she made the goo she said it was a secret.

The Cooperstown TREP$ program began as an offering to middle school students, but the outreach has expanded. According Franck, the program is now being offered to fifth- through 12th-graders. Once students participate in all the workshops they are allowed to sell the same or new product again each year thereafter, she added. There is a $5 market fee.

Franck said there were more than 30 new students participating in TREP$ this year.

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