Editor’s Note: Business Class

Miss Shumara Carswell’s economics students came to school with individual business plans in tow. Thursday morning was the day to present their ideas to professionals from within the community. Thursday, October 22 was Marketplace Times Day at East Laurens High School and I got to be one of the local “professionals” (Some of the people I have worked with in the newspaper business might think otherwise) who were judges of the business plans. And I enjoyed every minute of it.

The idea was to get their business plans together, create billboards, posters, business cards, web pages, or in the case of one business, Excotic Lemonade, an actual website, and present their ideas for non-partisan judgement. I believe the student entrepreneurs and the judges, if I may be allowed to speak for my fellow adults, benefitted from Marketplace Times Day.

“This is a way for them to own something,” Carswell said of her students. All participants were seniors. “This is also a way for them to get out of their comfort zones.” 

The first business -there were eight in all- that I visited was Sam’s Potato Shack & More. The business idea for Sam’s Potato Shack & More as not presented by a student named Sam. In fact, the name Sam comes from a combination of the three students behind the idea for the potato-based restaurant: Sophia, Alaina, and Meranda. S.A.M. 

I gave them four of the possible four points for originality. 

Handyman Hays, owned and operated (sic) by East Laurens High school senior Leo Hays, was all about bringing his skills to a Laurens County home near you. Hays said his business will be helpful -fixing broken appliances for example- but also affordable. That was something I could definitely support, particularly during the current economic time and space we are in.

“It’s a cheap service, but it’s a good one,” said Hays, who added that his plan will be to get the business going, get it “popular” and “make it big enough to let everyone know that I’m here.” 

Meeting the students, some of whom were dressed in slacks, dress shirts, and a tie (Shout out to Anthony Gassett at Exoctic Lemonade) was why I accepted the invitation from Carswell. Being new in town, it is always important to meet the “movers and shakers” of Dublin and greater Laurens County, but I’m smart enough to know that the future is our children. We have to make time for our children. 

“I think it’s important for the students to get in practice of being able to present their ideas to people,” Carswell said. “This is going to boost their confidence.”

The young men behind “Straight Structure,” a skullcap and beanie brand, were not without confidence and it immediately showed as I approached their table. All three student-athletes, Jeremiah Rozier, Gary Stockton, and Tawan Horn are a great representation of East Laurens High School’s best and brightest. If first impressions are everything, then the parents and guardians of these young men should be proud.

Describing the mission of the hat brand, Rozier said, “We want to keep everything together.” 

Other business ideas included a seafood restaurant (Juicy Yakks) and a gamer truck business (CG trucks), and a low calorie, low sugar energy drink brand. All of the ideas were great and if this proves anything, the future business leaders of Laurens County are definitely on to something.