The EBM class’s objective is to sell products to the student body in an effort to learn about business. This year there are three EBM classes. One class is selling Waylaces, another is selling Waycleaner and the third class was originally going to sell USB chargers but will not be selling a product due to miscommunication with its supplier.
Waylaces are shoelaces that come in a variety of neon colors. Junior Kate Kanieff first pitched the product idea, and senior Ricky Davies holds the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position for the class.
“Everyone needs laces in their shoes at some point in their lives, and they’re colorful and everything,” Davies said.
Waycleaner is a microfiber cloth that can clean computer or phone screens. At first, this EBM class decided to sell a putty that would kill bacteria that is in hard places to reach, but the class had a miscommunication with its supplier in China, which prevented them from receiving the putty.
Then, senior Andy Freedman came up with the idea of using Waycleaner as the class’s replacement product.
The third EBM class’s intended product, USB chargers, presented a way to charge phones on-the-go. This EBM class will not be selling a product this year because of the miscommunication with the supplier.
“At the beginning, none of us really knew [what to expect]. We just assumed that it would be okay, but the Chinese New Year really got in the way [of the orders],” junior Alyssa Lee, the third EBM class’s CEO, explained.
The EBM students goes through many steps to get to the sales stage.
First, the EBM classes assigns students to fulfill different jobs. There are five major positions in each class: CEO, VP of Marketing, VP of People and Relations, VP of Sales and Stock and VP of Finance. Each job has a crucial role in the project and can be the deciding factor of the product’s success.
“Having these responsibilities can open your eyes to new experiences every day,” Davies said.
Next, the EBM classes advertise their products. Advertising is an essential part in ensuring the success of the products. Creating posters to hang around campus and running social media pages are the EBM classes’ two main advertising methods.
Finally, the EBM classes actually sell their products. The three classes have their designated selling days spread out over the course of second term, so the products don’t compete with each other and so that students in the cafeteria are not overwhelmed.
Once the products are sold, each of the classes chooses a nonprofit organization to receive its proceeds.
“We have indeed made a profit and are looking at a large donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in May,” senior Chris Mulhern, a member of the Waycleaner class, said.
The class selling Waylaces will donate its proceeds to Cradles to Crayons, an organization that provides children in low-income families with daily necessities.
Many students who are either in the EBM class or have taken the EBM class would recommend it.
“I think if you’re interested in a new experience, [you should take the class]. You will learn a lot about business,” Davies said. “It’s a really fun class to be in, but don’t be discouraged by the amount of work you might have because you will learn a lot.”
EBM • Apr 10, 2013 at 9:38 PM
I would like to point out that while the third EBM class does not have a product, they will be coordinating some of the marketing efforts for a free to play game created by a WHS student for iPhone and iPad.