Students create Creations of Love business at NFA Main

 On Thursday, December 7, 2017, Ms. Kathi Workman's Career Ladders students launched a school based enterprise, Creations of Love.

The idea for a business was born and pitched to students in November. In one short month, the students, under the guidance of their teacher and the teaching assistants, named the business, designed the logo, purchased items based upon a budget, made the items to sell, shot a commercial for GBTV and began marketing their business. They also determined reasonable prices which allow for a net profit, which will then be reinvested in the business for future seasonal gift sales.  Each day, the team "verify the books" by calculating sales and ensuring accuracy of money.

The entrepreneurs are in the process of working with Mr. Gebhardt's Vis Com 3 upper-level class which operates as a defacto design firm called THE FULLERTON CREW to brand their business and create the official graphic logo, which will be used to create flyers, banners, business cards and stamps (and possibly some branded gift items too). They will also be learning Excel to manage spreadsheets, allowing them to calculate unit prices for each piece and built the total cost of each item which will be sold. This will enable them to know their profits before hand, monitor sales trends and make pricing decisions.

Creations of Love operates out of the NFA Main Bookstore Mondays - Fridays 8 am - 11:45 am.  Please consider them in all of your holiday needs!

Creations of Love is a school based business is run by Ms. Workman’s alternately assessed class, a group of students that are learning by hands on experiences and focusing on everyday life skills.  This business has been created by 7 talented, creative, exceptional students that are in charge of making decisions for every aspect of this business, including: logo, business name and branding, product ordering and purchasing, production of items, pricing, marketing and finally selling.  They will be looking at profit and loss pricing and budgeting with a goal of putting profits back into the business to grow and ultimately accumulating for potential scholarship opportunities at the end of the year.

The business “production lab” is in the SEM lab downstairs at NFA Main campus and our goods can be purchased in the NFA bookstore Monday – Friday, periods 2-6.  We focus on seasonal items with some basic items to be sold all year round.  This Holiday Season we will be selling handmade items such as ornaments, cards, jewelry, fleece pillows, holiday snow globes, premade hot cocoa mixes in decorative jars, and candle centerpieces. We will also be taking orders for custom pieces. 

This hands on experience for students allows for learning in multiple areas, such as calculating price, unit cost, and price points, keeping inventory, managing money and counting change back, deposits, profits, losses, customer service skills, and package and presenting items.

Creations of Love is named as a testament to the spirit of these students and a nod to the mantra of the district. These creations have certainly been made with love!

For further information, please contact Ms. Workman at kworkman@necsd.net

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!