DECA put on Sunnyslope’s first spring market on April 10th under the K-patio to give students another opportunity to earn money according to Marketing Teacher Jill Martinez.
Vendors participated in seminars to prepare for Market Madness and on the day of the event, the area was cleaned and tables were put up for them to sell their products.
Martinez said they decided to organize another market in the spring to give students a requested “second opportunity to make money.”
Around 45 students signed up and sold their products.
“I feel that I had a great experience selling at the market, and the students in charge definitely do a great job in regards to making sure we, the sellers, have all the support and resources we need,” said Senior Melanie Pacheco.
Many of the vendors agree that the market gave them a great way to experience selling their own products.
Senior Isabella Suarez said she does gigs selling popcorn and cotton candy outside of school, and her family encouraged her and her brother to participate in Market Madness.
As well as creating new businesses, the spring market also allowed many of the vendors to advertise their existing business to the student body.
Martinez said there were less vendors total but “a lot more food vendors than we anticipated” at the market.
This caused a bit of competition and a small problem.
Vendors including Pacheco said a main challenge was leftovers since there are “more and more vendors each year that sell desserts.”
The amount of food vendors was one thing that set this market different from Merry Marketplace. Even so, there were many of the same vendors from previous winter markets.
“I have participated in Merry Marketplace twice before,” said Senior Dara Ketchersid, “it was a similar experience.”
Ketchersid is among those who have partaken in the market before. She sold her own original paintings and digital art prints.
“I would encourage anyone to participate if they have something to sell, especially artists interested in selling their work in the future,” said Ketchersid.
The addition of the spring market brings about another chance for students to get involved in their community.
Martinez says she believes that Market Madness will continue in years to come.
