Cinnaminson High School’s student store is set to embark on a new journey with a new and improved name. The previously named “Student Store” will now be known as “Pirate’s Cove.”
The decision to create a new identity for the student store emerged from a collaborative effort between students, staff, and representatives of DECA, the organization that manages the student-run store located in “D” hallway.
“Stores have an identity, we lack an identity…we’re just a beige block. Not only that, there’s no name on the front of the store,” marketing teacher and DECA advisor Roger Roslowski said. “Anybody who walks by doesn’t know what it is unless they have been in here.”
Roslowski clarifies that all known stores have their own unique identity to it – a name or something to show what the true meaning of the store is. Through teamwork among students and Roslowski, a new name for the store was developed.
“I thought it was really important that I didn’t make this decision solely,” DECA Vice President of Student-Based Enterprise Tabitha Brickley said. “There were a lot of ideas, I wanted to make sure everyone felt their decisions were heard.”
Roslowski explains how the brainstorming process involved ideas from both his classes as well as from DECA members.
“There were a lot of suggestions. Part of it was the Marketing Two class last year as an assignment had to come up with a creative name,” Roslowski said. “Also, the DECA committee that formed came up with suggestions.”
Roslowski emphasized how the best name and logo for a store has to represent the school and what it offers.
¨In the world of DECA, stores are always named after the school; after a mascot, the logo, whatever they have,¨ Roslowski said.
Along with the new name, “Pirates Cove,” the store has also made several improvements this school year. Brickley, a sophomore, said one of her main goals for the student store is to make it more hospitable or homey for CHS students.
“We are trying to make the store not just a place where you can come and buy food, but somewhere you can come and hang out with your friends and have more of a community to it,” Brickley said.
Not only is the store changing for the school community, but for the DECA organization as well. Senior Kaylee Solomon, Co-President of DECA, said she believes that the new name will help them at their DECA competitions. According to Solomon, most of the stores they compete against all have unique names that show what the store is about, and that is something they previously lacked.
The student-run store offers DECA students real-world experience through learning how to work the register and handle money. These lessons can then be applied later in life when it comes time to pursue a career.
“We get real-world experience of working in the store and you get to learn ‘Square,’” Solomon said. “It is very useful because a lot of companies and businesses now use the ‘Square’ system.”
Not only do students benefit from the store, but the teachers and staff of CHS do as well. In addition to selling food and beverage items, the store also sells clothing and other Pirate-related merchandise, Solomon said.
The “Pirate Cove” is open for teachers and staff first through third period and open to everyone ninth period and after school.
Composed of more than 90 members, the DECA organization continues to grow. While Roslowski oversees the organization, it is through the leadership and involvement of its members that make it successful. Along with Solomon, senior James Smith is also a co-president of DECA.
