Members of Scrub a Dub Dub, winners of the Best Booth Award, showcase their business at Enactus Windsor’s Market Day. From left are Altrina Makoli, Leah Drouillard, Jade Drouillard and Jasleen Manku, students at Anderdon Public School. (KARLIE BULA/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
The sales pitches began almost immediately.
As visitors entered the University of Windsor's CAW Centre and Odette School of Business, they were greeted by students eager to promote everything from handmade body scrubs and candles to wooden drink coasters, key chains and upcycled vinyl records.
Each hoped to make a sale while sharing the story behind their business during Market Day.
Hosted twice a year by Enactus Windsor, the event showcased the results of months of work through the Ascent entrepreneurship and financial literacy program.
Through the program, students in Grades 7 to 12 learn about business by creating and operating their own ventures with support from Odette School of Business student mentors.
Held at the end of each semester, Market Day brought together students, educators, mentors and community members for a bustling marketplace where young entrepreneurs put their skills to the test.
“Market Day gives students the opportunity to showcase their eco-friendly micro-businesses in the real world, allowing students to interact with customers, market their products and experience what it is like to be an entrepreneur,” said Sienna Rino, an Odette School of Business student and Ascent mentor.
Throughout the semester, Enactus Windsor's Ascent team worked directly with elementary and secondary schools across Windsor-Essex, helping students develop business concepts, create products and prepare marketing strategies.
The hands-on approach encourages creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and financial literacy while allowing students to see how a business operates from idea to sale.
“As an Ascent mentor, I guided and supported students throughout their journey,” said Rino. “Twice a week, we came to their classrooms and worked with them as they brainstormed business ideas, developed their products and prepared for Market Day.”
The benefits extend beyond the student entrepreneurs.
University mentors gain practical leadership and communication experience, while community members have an opportunity to support youth entrepreneurship and engage with the next generation of innovators.
The program's reach continues to grow across Windsor-Essex, according to Karlie Bula, a UWindsor political science student and Ascent project manager.
“During the fall semester, we helped launch 103 new student businesses, with seven participating schools, 11 participating classrooms and more than 303 students taking part in the program,” said Bula.
Market Day also highlighted Ascent's commitment to sustainability.
Students were encouraged to incorporate environmentally responsible practices into their ventures through the principles of repair, reduce, reuse and recycle. The result was a variety of creative products made from repurposed materials.
In addition to selling their products, students competed for awards recognizing outstanding achievement.
Judges evaluated businesses on criteria such as branding, customer engagement, presentation quality and sales pitches.
Awards recognizing exceptional student entrepreneurs capped off the event.
Anderdon Public School's Scrub a Dub Dub captured the Best Booth Award for its line of scented, environmentally friendly body scrubs, while St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School's Tap & Focus claimed the Best Pitch Award for a wooden coaster that connects to a mobile app, reminding students to study while providing calming audio designed to improve focus.
For many participants, Market Day was their first opportunity to present a business to paying customers. That experience, organizers said, was what made the event so valuable.
“It was incredibly rewarding to see everything come together at Market Day,” said Rino. “Seeing the students present their businesses, interact with customers and showcase the work they had put into their ideas was such a great experience.”