The Estevan Comprehensive School’s Entrepreneurship 30 class is taking a different approach to the business it is offering this semester.
They have formed Concrete Jungle, which will be selling potted plants to the community. Students have been working tirelessly inside their “greenhouse” on the third floor of the school to get the business ready.
A launch will be held April 18.
“We decided as a class that we wanted to do something that will bring the whole community into it,” said Justin Van Achte, who is the business’ president.
They are selling air plants and succulents. The plants come in different sizes and looks, so Van Achte said some will be stringy and taller, and others will be shorter and neater.
The succulents don’t get as tall, but some are thicker than others. And they come in different colours and designs.
“We decided that would be a good fit to bring it towards the whole community, and not just specific groups,” said Van Achte.
Eighteen students are enrolled in Entrepreneurship 30 this semestre. The students each take on different roles associated with running a business.
Van Achte said they are all committed to the business, and they haven’t had any problems.
At the start of the semester, they pitched different ideas for the business concept, and a couple of kids in the class thought the potted plants would be a good direction to take.
He believes it’s also a good idea that they don’t have a clothing-based or food-based business, since those have been common in recent years.
“We talked about it, and this is unique where not a lot of ECS entrepreneurship classes have done a business like this, so it helps bring a first-time thing, so people will be more attracted to it,” said Van Achte.
Teacher Josh LeBlanc said the students are doing a great job with Concrete Jungle. They have hit a market that’s trendy and needs to be filled in Estevan.
“If you look at Regina and Saskatoon, areas like that, they have these types of things going on all over the place, but there’s nothing in Estevan,” said LeBlanc.
As a décor item, LeBlanc said they are growing in popularity because of the different designs and colours.
They have found an opportunity the students will be able to capitalize on.
LeBlanc told the students from the outset that they couldn’t have a food or clothing business this time around.
“The kids always had a decent success with the clothing, but the community needs something different, and I think they’ve done a really good job with this one,” LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc noted that he revamped how he instructs the course this year. It means there was an earlier date to start sales, and a focus on venture and experiential opportunities, versus traditional methods.
Now they’re focusing more on the business and incorporating lessons into the business.
“Everything we do, the community supports these kids amazingly well,” said LeBlanc. “I can never say enough about the community. Even the entrepreneurs that come in and are willing to give them help and advice during their business planning and all of that, everybody’s always willing to come in.”
Concrete Jungle will start taking orders on April 18 as part of the launch. Van Achte expects they will be sold out fairly quickly.
“I think that we will do really well, being that the community is already asking when we’re going to start selling, and people are really excited for us to start selling items,” said Van Achte.
A dollar from the sale of each potted plant will be directed to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
The opportunity to run a business has been a positive experience for Van Achte and the Entrepreneurship 30 students. They have learned a lot about the different things to do when running a business, but it’s been well worth it.
And for Van Achte, who has family members and friends that have attained success as entrepreneurs, these experiences will be even more beneficial if he decides to enter the business world.
“With different things to do throughout businesses, and different ways to go at it, we learned different strategies and stuff if people do want to go into business,” said Van Achte.
To place an order, visit www.concretejungle.shop.
A video of the students at work:
