Branch Area Careers Center students plan Mogul Palooza business expo

Mogul Palooza is an opportunity for community members to support business education students at Branch Area Careers Center.

The student business expo is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 7 at BACC. It includes a free hot dog lunch, door prizes drawn every 15 minutes, a 50/50 raffle and a last minute oportuinty to shop for Mother’s Day gifts. All sales are cash only.

Joseph Sobeske, business management and marketing program director, walked student through the hands-on learning experience of setting up a business. The expo is a sort of final exam.

Students could develop their product or service around a personal interest or resource. They created a business plan, used marketing strategies and on Saturday, will have the opportunity to make money.

A “soft opening” was April 21. Their displays were ready — mostly. They explained and sold their product to fellow BACC students and staff. It was a trial run to gage what to expect, improve or change for the real event.

Hailey Mahoney, of Quincy, created Rose’s Ring Collection, colorful gemstone rings she is selling for $10 each.

“It’s been a good ride so far,” Mahoney said during the soft opening.

Sam Abobaker, of Coldwater, and Taylor Waldrop, of Quincy, had a popular booth “Middle East Feast.”

Because they were making and serving food, culinary arts student Serenity Goetz was overseeing the operation. They sold out.

Leo Cardenas and Pedro Ocampo created Ebisu Flies, hand-tied flies for fly fishermen. Being dedicated to environmental conservation, all materials used to make each fly are eco-friendly, they said.

Nicholas Cranson, of Bronson, created Carson’s Candy — treats he bought and is reselling on the honor system in local offices and to fellow students.

“It has given me a better understanding of what goes into a business,” Cranson said.

Things like creating a prototype, doing cost analysis, creating pro forma financial statements, market research, developing a marketing plan, getting a loan approval from an actual commercial loan office, producing a social media marketing contest, keeping records and reporting and professional sales training.

On May 7, local business professionals will judge the student businesses based on their plan and presentation. They will also choose several “best of show” businesses.