By Katelyn Voorhies

Intern

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Wolf Den, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School’s school store has been recognized for their certification through the DECA Student-Based Enterprise project.

The Wolf Den was a project that was brought about by a couple Marketing Principles students during the 2014-15 school year.

“The class put together a proposal and presented it to administration for approval,” said Marketing and Business Educator and DECA Advisor Ashley Tessmer.

With the original space being an old office for the School Resource Officer, they created a location for students, staff, and anyone to enjoy the red and white of Lincoln High School.

The Wolf Den allows students to learn the responsibilities of managing and operating a store. “Students are also learning time management skills, how to work with other people in a professional selling, how to handle a variety of customers, and having to depend on other people to work towards a common goal,” Tessmer explained.

The Wolf Den is run by the Marketing Principles students each term, with 40 students working 10 shifts.

Tessmer said that students are also able to develop another skill – “they get to design merchandise, set prices, develop promotional plans, produce social media content,” she added. “Ultimately, when it comes time for LHS students to apply for jobs, our students have more experience when compared to other candidates their age.”

The store allows students to buy items, snacks, or clothing between classes or before and after classes.

The store stocks t-shirts, hats, and decorative items to show their Lincoln High School spirit. Store hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:40-9:15 a.m. and 12:19-3:30 p.m., and Wednesday, 12:15-3:30 p.m.

Occasionally the store hosts a flash sale online for those who cannot make it to the store and special hours during the beginning of the year and parent-teacher conferences.

Two students from the organization will be going to Nashville, TN, this spring to represent LHS for the award at the DECA ICDC. The students will present a paper on how the Wolf Den operates with retail and food service knowledge.