Entrepreneurs in training

CLARK FORK — It might be tough to break into the business world, but a group of six students already have a head start.

A school project that has produced real-world business results, Bonner County Cut-Outs serves the dual role of giving students valuable experience while standing on its own as a viable business. The team currently consists of students Melannie Wurm, Zoey Kenapp, Kale White, Cassidy Smith, Laray Stoffels and Stillman Berkley.

“The whole business side of things isn’t something we’d normally get to experience,” Wurm said. “For us, that’s really valuable.”

Bonner County Cut-Outs began as a 2010 project that grew into its current status as a web-based coupon and advertising business. The business operates primarily though its website — www.bonnercountycut-outs.com — and serves the local business community.

 Although Clark Fork High School teacher Brian Powell manages the student team and offers them advice, Wurm, Kenapp, White, Smith, Stoffels and Berkley operate Bonner County Cut-Outs almost entirely on their own. They make sales calls, design advertisements and coordinate with clients to ensure satisfaction.

“It forces you to improve your organizational skills,” Berkley said. “You need to keep up with the owners, know what they want in their ads and that sort of thing.”

The business uses a simple but effective model. By clicking on promotional offers for participating businesses listed on the website, visitors can access a page that contains both a coupon and an advertisement for the business. From there, the individual can print the coupon or add it to a savable print list.  

That strategy seems to be working based on the team’s successes. So far, they count Cedar Street Bistro, Eve’s Leaves, Gustafson Hardwoods LLC, Joe’s Philly Cheesesteaks, Les Schwab, Mary Kay, Miller’s Country Store, Pend Oreille Shores, Petal Talk, Sandpoint Salon and Tanning, and Trinity at City Beach among their clients. The team visited Sandpoint on Wednesday for another series of meetings with their clients.

“We’re going to check in and make sure everyone is happy with their ads,” Smith said.

In fact, they’ve been successful enough that other educators are interested in taking a similar approach. Last month, the students traveled to Seattle and introduced Bonner County Cut-Outs at the  Northwest Council for Computer Education, one of the largest academic conferences in the region. In addition to a great Seattle mini-vacation, the team also had the distinction of being the only student speakers at the conference.

“We presented for about an hour,” Stoffels said. “We ran the audience through our site and let them use some of our iPads to check it out.”   

Aside from the perks like the Seattle trip and an interesting diversion from normal schoolwork, the students say they’re also learning new and practical skills every day. Although each team member has different plans after graduation, each one feels the entrepreneurship program will give them an edge in the future.

“For me, learning to talk to people in a business-like manner has been really beneficial,” Kenapp said. “I feel way more comfortable than I used to.”