PORT ANGELES — Plans for an online jewelry business and a hip Seattle coffee shop were the big winners in the Entrepreneur Youth Challenge this week.
A panel of judges Wednesday night picked Elle McGlocklin’s Over-Joyed bakery and cafe and Chantell Schultz and Heavyn Olea’s Mermaid Tears custom sea-glass company as the top business plans out of four finalists culled from a dozen teams that entered the competition, now in its fourth year.
The finalists, all of whom attend Port Angeles High School, pitched their business plans to discerning judges at the Lincoln Center in Port Angeles.
The winning teams will each receive $1,500 for their innovative business plans.
The other finalists — A.J. Konopaski’s KONO Athletics and the T.A.P. Tactical Airsoft and Paintball company of Tim Acheson, Coty Apperson, Lyle Baum and Parker Brye — each received $200.
“It’s always very difficult for the judges to make a selection, especially with a group of great finalists like we have this time,” said Linty Hopie, Peninsula College entrepreneurship coordinator.
“They all did a wonderful job.”
The winning prize was raised from an originally intended $1,000 to $1,500, and two runner-up prizes were awarded for $200 because of the increased generosity of area sponsors, including Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, First Federal Community Dividend Program, ONE Group Consulting and Necessities &Temptations gift shops.
All finalists also received a $25 gift certificate from Necessities & Temptations.
Passion for businesses
Hopie said all of the students had a passion for their business and came up with “very realistic” business plans.
“It’s a high-pressure situation,” she added, noting that “not many kids have the guts” to do it.
After 30 minutes of deliberation, the judges selected McGlocklin and the Schultz-Olea team.
“At first, it was really intimidating, I’m not going to lie,” said Olea, 17.
“But then, you get used to it, and you want them [the judges] to know about your business.”
All three of the winning students said they will strongly consider putting their business plans into motion in the real world.
Sooner than later
For Olea, that could happen sooner rather than later.
“This is something that me and Chantell are both really passionate about,” Olea said.
Olea, a senior, hasn’t decided what to do with her share of the prize. She’ll either save it for college or invest it in Mermaid Tears.
She plans to attend a community college before transferring to a four-year school but hasn’t decided whether to go to Peninsula College or a school in Arizona, where she has a lot of family.
Mermaid Tears would sell natural sea-glass jewelry online. The name is from an idea that sea glass comes from mermaid tears.
Every team used displays to present their marketing materials. Hopie said the judges asked tough questions about the students’ business plans.
“It was a lot of work,” said Schultz, 18.
Schultz said she will probably spend her half of the prize on college tuition. She plans to attend the University of Montana.
Seattle coffee shop
McGlocklin’s Over-Joyed business was the only one of the group that would operate outside Port Angeles.
She did marketing studies for locating it in a Seattle neighborhood.
She envisions it as more than a coffee shop.
It would have flavorful coffee and wholesome pastries, to be sure, but also offer its customers baking and cooking classes from experts.
“It’s something I’d like to do in my future, having that experience and getting to live that dream,” said McGlocklin, 17.
“Hopefully, I’ll have it located in Seattle.”
McGlocklin said all of the finalists had a passion for their ideas and excellent business plans.
“It was an honor to win,” she said.
McGlockin, who is a junior, will spend $1,200 of her prize on a yet-to-be-determined college and much of the rest at an upcoming DECA conference.
“Elle was incredibly prepared,” Hopie said.
Every team had a mentor from the local business community.
Hopie said the finals were attended by county and city officials and local business leaders.
“People missed important meetings yesterday” to attend, she said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
