The Real World

?

John Zitzner, E CITY?s President and Founder, Rodney Decipeda, E CITY CET, and the E CITY staff are currently working with a dedicated group of students to create a new business in Cleveland, OH. Ten graduates of different E CITY classes have been meeting at E CITY's Headquarters weekly since April.? They have decided to create a small business serving the needs of high school students and teachers in the Cleveland Municipal School District.

The business is a school supply store which expands to offer after-school snacks.? S.O.S. (Slippin' on Supplies...and more) will open in September at Success Tech Academy.? Crystal Ramos, 2004 National Entrepreneur of the Year and one of the managing partners of S.O.S. explains the business concept.? "We noticed a customer need at Success Tech.? Students would often come to school unprepared from a supplies standpoint.? Instead of borrowing supplies from teachers or getting into trouble, now the S.O.S. school store will be there for all their needs."? Johnnie Durant, Success Tech's principal is totally behind the company.? "These students are terrific!" exclaims Ms. Durant.? "I'm so impressed with how they've organized the venture and their business plan is outstanding."

In addition to supplies, there's one other consumer need being filled.? "Ice Cream," states D'Andre Thomas, another S.O.S. partner and co-founder of D & D's Ice Cream Truck with fellow E CITY student D'Andre Heard.? "After school is a great time for kids to grab a quick popsicle on their way out the door."? So recently, after setting up the S.O.S. checking account and obtaining a vendor's license, D'Andre Heard, Manager of Capital Procurement for S.O.S. investigated and purchased a used freezer which will allow S.O.S. to stock and sell after-school ice cream.

Ramos sums it up this way: "Mr. Z. taught us that we should think big, start small, and move fast.? What better way to learn business than to actually start one!"? Stop by Success Tech Academy at 14th and Lakeside in the fall to check out the new student store.? Ramos adds, "After success at Success Tech, we'd like to expand into all the high schools in the district...one at a time."

S.O.S. Partners work on the numbers