Students at Henderson High School are diving into the world of business through the newly established Crafting Business Club, which meets weekly in the school library. This week's meeting featured hands-on learning with the club’s new button-making machines, giving students a chance to develop crafting skills that could translate into business ventures.
At lunchtime, club members welcomed guest speakers Gina Juarez and Drew Butler from Texas Bank. They shared valuable insights on small business structures, including DBAs (Doing Business As), LLCs (Limited Liability Corporations), and small business loans, providing students with foundational knowledge on how to legally and financially establish a business.
HHS Librarian Amanda Rushing, one of the club’s sponsors, expressed her enthusiasm for the program's purpose. “I wanted to pass on traditional skills to the students,” said Rushing, “but also make it relevant to today's economy. With so many people pursuing side hustles, this club gives them a real sense of what it’s like to set up a business doing something they already enjoy, like crafting."
The group’s sponsors received a generous $5,000 grant from the Henderson Education Foundation this year, which helped fund the program and purchase equipment. During the meetings students will learn a new skill, and over time each student will work on developing their own comprehensive business plan to be evaluated by local community members.
Throughout the school year, club members will create inventory, preparing for a spring craft fair at the library. At the event, students will set up booths, promote their businesses, and sell their handcrafted products to students and the community.
“My goal is to equip students with a blend of practical skills and real-world knowledge so they can turn their passions into successful business ventures,” said Rushing.
