This is a course in marketing, merchandising, and management. Retail sales skills, display operations, and customer relations in business management are applied in a practical manner in "The Minuteman Shop", a retail outlet open to the public. Students attend national conferences and regional competitions, which sharpen their leadership skills and help prepare the students for a future in the world of marketing.
The freshmen will learn about the art of selling from the pre-approach, to developing sales skills, to the various steps of approach, to the completion of the successful sale. They will examine the special skills needed for good working relationships and interactions of co-workers. Students will analyze the future of sales in our economic society and begin to learn about the U.S. free enterprise system.
This course takes the student beyond basics by beginning to take responsibility for the operation of the cash registers. They will learn how to advertise and display merchandise and become knowledgeable about controlling stock, pricing, ticketing merchandise and shipping and receiving goods. The student will begin typing classes one period a day. The Sophomores will study the principles of marketing. They will learn to follow the functions of marketing in the changing consumer market. Students will collect and analyze data needed to prepare research projects and they will also learn the channels of distribution involved in marketing.
This course is a more advanced course in marketing and retailing. Students will have full responsibility for all operations of the cash registers. They will learn cash controls and daily deposit activities. They will explore the many facets of planning for a job by doing resumes, handling job interviews, and preparing a letter of application. They will learn about buying merchandise. Students will continue with their study of typing. The Juniors will study the fundamentals of retailing involved in areas of human relations, getting along with co-workers and supervisors, getting merchandise ready to sell, sales promotion, managerial skills, and becoming an entrepreneur. They will perform retailing projects and tasks on the word processor and spreadsheet.
During the last year in this course the student will experience learning about store organization, maintaining, and keeping stock secure. They will learn how to do a store layout. They will also be instructed in economics and the free enterprise system. The student will be responsible for all aspects of running a retail establishment. The student will continue with their typing classes. The Seniors will study Business Law. This will cover basic criminal law, international business law, contracts, obtaining a job and being an agent. They will examine practices such as starting a business and using their purchasing power.
