On Tuesday, Dec. 5, the school store, the Phoenix Peak, held its annual holiday shopping night. Volunteers from the school’s business and marketing classes worked to help shoppers find and check out their goods. The products ranged from standard merchandise, such as sweatshirts, pajamas, and jackets, to other objects, including their new sherpa blankets, mugs, and beanies. 

The Phoenix Peak offered a 10% discount on all their goods as well as other deals such as $10 off a Rock Ridge-themed sherpa blanket when buying one of the sweatshirts. The sale proved to be very effective in drawing in customers.

 “I’m here shopping with my daughter,” parent Rodney Cluck said. “Since [there’s] a sale tonight, I think we’ll probably buy a few things.”

The school store holds this sale every year before winter break so students can buy gifts for friends and family. They set up their stand outside the main gym during the basketball game to attract the increased foot traffic to their store after the game.

Many students volunteered at the event, such as senior Pranav Kulkarni. Although some students volunteered for different reasons, most students volunteered as part of DECA. “As part of our class, we come out here and help out with the winter sale that’s going on right now,” Kulkarni said. 

Many staff members also took part in the event. Sandra Tucker, a business and marketing teacher, and DECA advisor, was one of the event managers who helped to run the event. She mainly worked at the checkout counter helping customers pay for their goods, while the students took care of showcasing their items.

“[This sale] is so we can help our teachers, parents, and families get ready for the holiday season,” Tucker said. “[The money from this event] helps to keep the school store in supply, and this is actually [a] hands-on learning lab for our marketing classes. Every year we’ve done it, it’s been a success.” 

Senior Nihaal Grandhi volunteered at the event and used skills he learned in his Dual Enrollment Marketing class to help run the event.

“We learn how to sell to the right demographic the prices that bring more customers in, [and] how to use social media to bring in more people,” Grandhi said. “We have a 10% discount on all apparel and are also setting [them] up in a way [that] catches your eye.”

However, there was more to this event than just giving the student body a great discount.  DECA is an organization that helps to prepare and educate students to become emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. They specialize in helping students who would like to work in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. For the volunteering students, the event hosted by the Phoenix Peak was a good way to gain experience and knowledge. Not only were they able to put their marketing skills to the test, but they were able to gain first-hand experience in working in finance and helping customers.

“We use [the school store] to compete in DECA competitions,” DECA member junior Dylan Nawaratne said. “We show our records, how [many] sales we make, [and] our items.” 

The event attracted many customers and was overall a successful night for the volunteers. The annual holiday sale will take place again next winter.