Inside the Dawg House
Written by Katie Helzer, Raymore-Peculiar High School Freshman
Initially published in “P.O.V. Publish Our Voices,” a student-run magazine showcasing the perspectives of young writers.
How Student Entrepreneurs Are Shaping School Spirit
Fifteen years ago, a random idea was brought to life.
Students at Blue Valley Northwest High School, put together a business plan to start the “Dawg House,” a school spirit merchandise store. Now the store has taken off and is a Blue Valley Northwest High School staple.
The store is run by students in marketing management with teacher Meghan Trader. Each year the class brainstorms new ideas for the store like bringing in new products and designs. Over the years, they have expanded to selling short-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, long sleeves, polo shirts, quarter zips, pants, shorts, hats, stickers, cups, and some Nike products. They have even expanded to selling merchandise for their elementary school, Oak Hill.
Senior Keaton Humphrey is the apparel manager responsible for making new ideas available to the community. At the beginning of this year, the Dawg House had an abundant number of orders from their online store that were hard to keep up with. To overcome this situation, the 24 student staff worked together and used this as a learning experience.
I am learning how to interact with the vendors and with unhappy people. This can help me in the future because I will be able to handle difficult situations.
Keaton Humphrey, Blue Valley Northwest Senior
Since starting the Dawg House in 2009, students have been able to learn many things from being on the staff. The opportunity exposes students to different business careers and real-world scenarios of working in a store.
“I am learning how to run a business and how to lead other students. I am also learning proper email etiquette. This will help me in the future because I will have the general ideas on running a business and etiquette which will give me an advantage over others,” said Dawg House special order manager, senior Kennedy Shank.
The Dawg House gives students the hands-on experience to achieve their goals and set them up for success.
Trader expressed, “I love seeing students get excited about bringing an idea to fruition. There is a lot of autonomy for students to dream and imagine how they can make their mark on the store. Students bring enthusiasm to the staff, and it is so fun to watch them run with new ideas.”
Students who work at the Dawg House not only get the benefits in the classroom, but also in the store itself.
When students work outside of the school day for school events, they earn $5 per hour, which can only be spent on Dawg House products. Additionally, the students get a 20% discount on all their purchases.
Since the store is open for events, people from the community have been able to support the school by buying merch.
“Many students, teachers, and families through the BVNW community wear apparel purchased through the Dawg House. It is fun for my students (and me) to go to BVNW events and see so many people wearing things our staff designed, ordered, and packaged. It makes me proud of the work my students do and shows them the extent of their reach,” said Mrs. Trader.
The student-run store has impacted the overall school spirit at Blue Valley Northwest since the start. The large variety of items allows all students to find something to match their style. With the store being open during lunch, before, after school, and having an online store, its accessibility makes it easy for students to purchase their merchandise.
The store has impacted school spirit because we have things that people can buy and wear to the games. People see others wearing things that they like and want to come to the Dawg House to get what they see others wearing,” said Humphrey.
Keaton Humphrey, Blue Valley Northwest Senior
Not only has the Dawg House flooded the hallways with school spirit but it has shaped students’ futures.
“I was looking at finance before and now I want to go into marketing management. I love what I do in the Dawg House and it is my favorite class and I would love to do something similar to what I do now,” says Humphrey.
For some students it has shifted their focus; for many others, the Dawg House has motivated them to pursue a future in business.
I think it has made me want to go on more of a business track with whatever I do. Before joining the Dawg House, I had very little of an idea of what I wanted to do; however, once I joined I realized I enjoyed the environment and the real-world experiences we have.
Kennedy Shank, Blue Valley Northwest Senior
The Dawg House has been a positive addition to Blue Valley Northwest High School, enhancing the school’s atmosphere and providing a stronger sense of community between students, faculty, and families. The impact continues to encourage school spirit and engagement. With future plans in store, the Dawg House will proceed to reach students and their community.
