Online shopping has become very popular over the years, and that is one of the reasons why DECA sponsor, Kim Adams has decided to create a website that allows students and others to buy Raider gear electronically. One main reason the spirit store is online is because of lack of space in the building. Since there is no space to set up an actual store, Adams decided to set it up in a way that most people can reach faster.
“We saw [the idea of having an online store] from a different school that had it, and then we decided we need to make one because it just makes stuff easier to get,” DECA president Kristian Aqui said.
Before launching the website, DECA created a survey linked on the school website and Twitter account to get feedback for the new store. According to Adams and her students, the survey had a lot of positive feedback, and with the survey she had a clear view of what to sell.
“It worked, but not as much,” Aqui said. “It only got the first 150 results, and most of those were the same.”
Adams, a former cheer sponsor, brought something that she hopes will motivate students to be more involved in school while still showing their Raider spirit. As DECA’s sponsor she is letting DECA members work on the management of the store, since they are interested in the marketing field, and they know how to do inventory. The national DECA organization encourages a school store on campus, but North has never had an actual school store. Some items that are school-related are not sold out of an actual store but as fundraisers for different grade levels and organizations.
“I hope [students] would just buy it to support the school and be proud of North Garland,” DECA officer Lina Hassen said.
Now having the online spirit store up and running, people can start purchasing their favorite items that represent the Raiders.
“I think that [online school spirit store] is good, so that students can get more spirit wear,” freshman Sarah Valdez said. “When people are proud of their school, the atmosphere is so much fun.”