SIFE Seeks Partners to Expand Business
Emilie Doherty
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: News
Is the economy keeping you from purchasing your own store and selling homemade items? The Village in downtown Marshall can help make that dream a reality while you wait out the recession. The store currently is a consignment for Westbrook Walnut Grove High School, La-tee-da!, Cat Abott and Holy Redeemer school.
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), is one of the 90 student organizations Southwest Minnesota State University offers. Their mission for the Village is to help consignees learn about business concepts and apply them in real life situations.
SMSU SIFE is the first SIFE team in the world to own and operate its own business in and off campus retail location.
The store is in the mini mall located at 309 E. College Dr. The location is an excellent accommodation for current SMSU SIFE students who volunteer time to operate it. The current store location has resources available to expand. The Village expanded into Village Apparel, Village Marketplace, Village Learning Center and still continues running Nature's Backyard, which specializes in birding.
The Marketplace is a consignment business where entrepreneurs can apply to sell their products to the public. SMSU SIFE has incorporated the Marketplace to help entrepreneurs succeed in the community.
"The growth and new location will [gain] contracts and expand [outreach with other] entrepreneurs," said Jeron Van Drehle, senior business administration and marketing student and the entrepreneurship director of the Village.
There is an application process and once approved, an individual business can sell their product for three months or on request of renewal. Van Drehle foresees that the Marketplace will expand the outreach to entrepreneurs in this troubling economy. Van Drehle says, "We [SMSU SIFE] are taking applications for consignment at this time."
SIFE and the Accounting Club have partnered together last fall to help each become a more successful organization. Professor John Gochenouer, advisor of SIFE, has a vision to see the Accounting Club become a key participant in the marketplace. Every semester, the Accounting Club partners with students to sell their books. However, by partnering with the Marketplace, the Accounting Club would increase sales by selling year-round.
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), is one of the 90 student organizations Southwest Minnesota State University offers. Their mission for the Village is to help consignees learn about business concepts and apply them in real life situations.
SMSU SIFE is the first SIFE team in the world to own and operate its own business in and off campus retail location.
The store is in the mini mall located at 309 E. College Dr. The location is an excellent accommodation for current SMSU SIFE students who volunteer time to operate it. The current store location has resources available to expand. The Village expanded into Village Apparel, Village Marketplace, Village Learning Center and still continues running Nature's Backyard, which specializes in birding.
The Marketplace is a consignment business where entrepreneurs can apply to sell their products to the public. SMSU SIFE has incorporated the Marketplace to help entrepreneurs succeed in the community.
"The growth and new location will [gain] contracts and expand [outreach with other] entrepreneurs," said Jeron Van Drehle, senior business administration and marketing student and the entrepreneurship director of the Village.
There is an application process and once approved, an individual business can sell their product for three months or on request of renewal. Van Drehle foresees that the Marketplace will expand the outreach to entrepreneurs in this troubling economy. Van Drehle says, "We [SMSU SIFE] are taking applications for consignment at this time."
SIFE and the Accounting Club have partnered together last fall to help each become a more successful organization. Professor John Gochenouer, advisor of SIFE, has a vision to see the Accounting Club become a key participant in the marketplace. Every semester, the Accounting Club partners with students to sell their books. However, by partnering with the Marketplace, the Accounting Club would increase sales by selling year-round.
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