When senior Storiole manager Noah Smith found interest in studying business, he hoped to gain experience with his passion by joining the school store.

Smith said his position as the Storiole manager includes supervising the school store members.

“I manage all of the students in the store and organize their work schedules. I also help out in each department, explaining what to do,” Smith said.

Deca co-adviser and business teacher Sophia Ross said members who organize the school store are required to take her business class.

“The school store is an actual class senior business students can take, it’s called school store operations,” Ross said. “It acts like a lab where students can put their business and retail operation skills to work.”

Ross said the school store will welcome students to visit during Homecoming week.

“The store has been open for the last week. No big announcement was made,” Ross said. “Our big re-grand opening will take place the last week of Sept. just in time for students to purchase spirit apparel and accessories for Homecoming week.”

Senior Max Segal said the school store sells various products and creates a positive environment.

“We sell great apparel, have tasty snacks and usually good music,” Segal said. “People should come in anytime to just laugh around. You would be surprised at some of the nice clothing we have.”

Ross said the school store received many new items to sell this year.

“We have new apparel and St. Louis Park merchandise in the store, one of the first promotions students have planned is the class color shirts,” Ross said. “We are working on a couple other ideas like gift cards, birthday delivery service, coffee and tea. We are also working on purchasing an embroidery machine to add personalized information, like students names, to sweatshirts we sell.”

Ross said she hopes to have more student involvement in the school store and to receive the Gold-level Certification through School-Based Entrepreneur at the National Deca Conference.

“We hope to increase school spirit through the sales of our merchandise,” Ross said. “Last year our store received Gold-level Certification. This year’s class will do the same in hopes to attend the National Deca Conference in April where they will present and compete in the School Based Enterprise Academy.”