It has been nearly five months since the devastating flood hit in Southern West Virginia. Much of the cosmetic repairs have shown progress, but the economic rebound will take much more time. In an effort to contribute to the rebuilding of Richwood, West Virginia, Bridgeport High School DECA has decided to take a unique approach to community service, one that will keep on giving.

 

A core group of BHS DECA students have partnered with students from Richwood High School to create an upscale teen consignment store in Richwood.  The students have used their days off to help clean, paint and plan for the store’s soft opening on December 10, utilizing their entrepreneurship skills learned in the business and marketing classes at BHS.

 

“Students in Richwood don’t currently have any business classes,” said BHS Junior Christina Guirguis, who also won the Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award at last summer’s Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship.  “We are mentoring the students as they learn valuable business skills first-hand by operating a store that will help their local economy.”

 

The BHS team has helped with the business plan, licensing, and concept of the business, but ultimately understand that the store belongs to the students in Richwood.  The teams have met several times with business consultants from around the state, including BHS alumnus Luke Nesler, who is creating the store logo.

 

The store, located at 34 East Main Street in Richwood, is the first of its kind, combining two schools in a community effort where the proceeds will provide scholarships for those affected by the flood.  The building was donated by Paul and Bobbi Vitello of Richwood, whose own entrepreneurial venture contributed to Richwood’s success for nearly 50 years. 

 

Former Richwood High School Principal Jim Weber came up with the concept and pitched the idea to the Bridgeport High School students after the school made a substantial donation to flood relief efforts in July.  Always eager to apply their business skills, BHS DECA students ran with the idea and are surprised at how quickly it became a reality.

 

“It has been an amazing experience to work with the students from Richwood and collaborate on the store ideas,” Guirguis said.  She, along with 14 other BHS students and several RHS students, spent 16 hours on Veteran’s Day setting up the store.  Throughout the day, local businesspeople had round-table discussions with the students, offering resources and valuable advice for entrepreneurship.  Richwood Mayor Bob Henry Baber worked with a wood sculptor to create the store sign and offered encouragement to the hard-working teens. 

 

The BHS students made another trip to Richwood on Thursday to speak to the Richwood City Council about the project and seek additional funding for start-up costs.  Bridgeport and Clarksburg businesses and civic groups have been generously donating to the cause, ensuring the hands-on entrepreneurship project can continue. 

 

The initial donation, from Danny Watts, enabled the group to begin the process and get necessary paperwork approved.  After that, Bridgeport Juniors and Bridgeport Woman’s Club, as well as Kiwanis, Grogg’s Heating and Air, Mountain State Electric, Colours, Inc., Dunkin’ Doughnuts, Starbucks, Andrea Crayton, iLease and Rentals, Tyler Franklin and more have contributed monetarily.  Additional tax-deductible contributions can be made through the BHS DECA Club. 

 

“Start-up costs for the store include insurance, utilities, wages and merchandise,” said Guirguis.  “We are currently seeking donations of good, clean teen clothing to sell at the store and also seeking monetary contributions as well as any donations of store fixtures or clothing racks.  Clothing donations can be dropped off at the Bridgeport Library for the next two weeks.”

 

The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education Director Gene Coulson is working closely with the group as is Nick Lambernedis from the Small Business Administration’s local SCORE chapter.  Luke Nesler, Business Coach Joe Carlucci of Beckley and the Superintendents and Principles for both Richwood and Bridgeport round out the team that have made this possible.  Jim Weber’s vision on empowering students through an entrepreneurial venture is becoming a reality with the collaboration of two schools and one very big idea.

 

“Seeing the optimism and creativity come alive as the students work together and knowing that the store may inspire additional enterprises to rise up in the town has been truly transformative,” said Weber.  “Small businesses are what made Richwood a success the first time and they are the key to helping it rise again after the flood.”