Art Mart Launch: CA Begins a New Project
A combination of academic and vocational skills are what LCCTC is best known for, but did you know students enrolled in the Commercial and Advertising Arts program at the CTC also receive entrepreneurial training to aid them in starting their own businesses?
Our CA students put those skills to good use this past week with the launch of their entrepreneurial project “The Art Mart”. Using skills learned in our CA program and our KickstART afterschool program students engaged in all aspects of their business from developing the concept, drafting a business model and mission statement, research and development as well as demographic and market analysis. Then came the time to put their trade skills to work designing, producing, and marketing a wide variety of custom products that they believed would fit their target audience.
Fortunately, they were correct and at the opening launch during our Spring Open House, their hard work was rewarded selling over $700 worth of merchandise in just two hours. Students handled all of the budgeting and accounting for the business, keeping a detailed inventory, managing customer service and sales, and recording and reviewing their costs and expenses as well as their profits.
Among the products now available are student-designed and produced pins, hats, stickers, mugs, t-shirts, archival prints, and much more. All proceeds from their initiative go directly into furthering their education by helping to fund class projects, trips, and product production.
Senior Tommilyn Genareo of Shanango was named Art Director for The Art Mart and worked with her peers in critiquing, developing, and ultimately approving or denying all designs pre-production. Katherine Tillia of Ellwood serves as General Manager assisting Genareo as well as handling the managerial responsibilities of the initiative.
“Working as the art director has allowed me to gain many skills, some of which include leadership and work ethic,” states senior Genareo (Shenango). “Even though the job can be difficult at times, it also opens up great opportunities for me to grow my resume!”
Genareo learned to lead by example as she worked hard to get the idea up and running. “I had so much fun working on the screen printing! Not only did I gain the experience of working in a professional fast paced setting, but got to meet the future of the Commercial Art program! I will be forever grateful for the opportunities this school continues to give me.”
Commercial Art Instructor Mr. Anthony DeRosa stated: “There is no better teacher than experience and that is what our program and school are best at, providing students of Lawrence County with unmatched experience in a variety of fields. The Art Mart is just one of many ways we prepare our students for the world of work and I could not be more proud and grateful for the talent and work ethic we see from our program’s students. I think many of our students learned a valuable lesson about getting back what you put into a project and that hard work and a positive attitude are always rewarded. The project was founded by this year’s students but will be passed down to next year's class and beyond and I am thrilled to see where our kids take it next.”
