Northville High School’s student-run store, the N Den, has earned a prestigious Gold Certification through DECA’s School-Based Enterprise (SBE) competition. This achievement not only highlights the dedication of the school’s marketing students but also qualifies two outstanding students, Alexan Kazarian and Jackson Eisman, for the DECA International Career Development Conference in April.
The Gold Certification was awarded based on a comprehensive report written by Alexan and Jackson, covering ten essential areas of business operations. Their report demonstrated how the N Den successfully integrates business principles into its daily operations, ensuring a hands-on learning experience for students.
The ten areas of business covered in the report include:
- Financial Analysis – Managing store revenue, tracking finances with technology, and overseeing expenditures.
- Marketing Information Management – Collecting and analyzing sales data, customer preferences, and market trends.
- Product/Service Management – Overseeing product development and sales, including student-designed apparel.
- Promotion – Engaging the student body through lunch announcements, special events, digital menu boards, and social media.
- Pricing – Establishing product markups, typically around 30%.
- Human Resource Management – Training employees, fostering a positive workplace environment, and utilizing scheduling software.
- Distribution/Channel Management – Managing inventory, stocking, and organizing product displays.
- Market Planning – Identifying customer profiles and strategizing sales approaches.
- Selling – Providing customer service, assisting with purchases, and enhancing the shopping experience.
- Operations – Overseeing daily store functions, employee responsibilities, and time management.
Some of these concepts are reinforced through classroom activities, such as pricing and promotion strategies, while others are integral to daily operations at the N Den, including sales and inventory management.
Alexan and Jackson’s hard work and dedication to the marketing program at NHS played a key role in achieving this certification. Alexan, a valued team member at the N Den, and Jackson both plan to continue working in the store next year, further honing their business and leadership skills.
Earning Gold Certification places the N Den among the top school-based enterprises in the nation, recognizing the store as a model program that provides students with real-world business experience. The entire Northville community celebrates this remarkable accomplishment and wishes Alexan and Jackson success as they prepare for the international competition in April.