Open for Business: Students Bring “Stripes” to Life

From idea to grand opening, Ozark High School students celebrated a new business venture on Wednesday, April 1, after months of hard work, with the opening of their very first brick-and-mortar store, Stripes: Spirit & Apparel.

“We are super excited to have you guys all here today,” Lucas Edwards, an OHS senior and business enterprise student, said at the ribbon cutting event. “This has been a long time coming, and it's truly an honor because, man, since day one, it's been such a slow-moving process.There's so many steps that we never thought about that we had to develop, and now it's go time.” 

The store will serve as a hub for all things school spirit, and students in Mrs. Kirkman’s business enterprise class have spent the last year building the business from the ground up. From creating a business plan to designing merchandise, laying out the store, and marketing the new venture, students have had a hand in every aspect.

The flagship store is located in the Ozark Innovation Center and will be open to students during third block every school day. The public will also have the opportunity to shop for spirit wear through the store’s website (coming soon) or at sporting events through mobile kiosks.

“Next year, we hope to expand those hours as well,” Ella Hedgpeth, an OHS junior and business enterprise student, said. “We will also be up and running events, so football games, basketball games, maybe even assemblies, all of it is a possibility.”

The store features hoodies, T-shirts, crewnecks, cups, bags, stickers, and more, with plans to expand its offerings as students learn what customers enjoy. Each product is handmade and designed by students, with the goal of providing trendy Ozark apparel while highlighting student groups. Follow the store on instagram @ozarkstripes to see what these students do next!