NY ISLANDERS PROMOTE YOUTH ENTERPRISE
Junior Achievement' students produce Islanders hat for Team Store at Broadway Mall, LI

This spring, the Islanders' playoff presence translated into a lucrative business opportunity for a group of young entrepreneurs. On Saturday, April 14, eleven East Meadow High School students welcomed fans to the Islanders team store at the Broadway Mall where they commenced sales of new merchandise line of limited edition Islander hats of their own design, the culmination of an exciting crash course business venture.

For seven weeks, this select group of students convened in the boardroom of the Nassau Coliseum to participate in the Junior Achievement of New York Company Program. Junior Achievement is a non-profit, worldwide organization providing curricula and interactive experiences that teach young people about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and workforce readiness. JA relies on the support of corporate and business volunteers who deliver the curricula to students, enhancing it with their own professional expertise.

Terry Goldstein, Director of Merchandising for the Islanders and a JA volunteer, recognized the unique opportunity he and the Islanders organization could offer local youth. Goldstein decided to use the JA company program curriculum, which commissions participants to start their own business, replete with a board of directors, product design phase, stock sales, and marketing plan. Goldstein thought this would be an excellent opportunity to introduce the students to the world of sports merchandising. The student entrepreneurs decided to produce and market a new Islanders 'limited edition' hat which they felt would appeal to the Islanders fan base. Inspired by the choice of merchandise, the East Meadow High School students cleverly dubbed their company "Hat Trick."

During weekly sessions, students sold shares of the company, canvassed fans during a game to ascertain market demand, interpreted feedback to advise the design of the hat, and negotiated with a vendor to produce as many units as possible. "A memorable part of this experience was going to the meetings at the Coliseum and explaining to other people exactly what we were doing each week. We learned that the Islanders hockey team is much more than just hockey players; there is a lot more to the business than skating," said student, Ashley Tomlaski. Goldstein broadened the perspective of the curriculum by inviting guests like Mike Bossy, Mike Milbury and Head Trainer, Garrett Timms to address the group and illustrate the scope of sports operations and administration.

Goldstein was committed to supporting JA's mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. By highlighting the varied duties and talents requisite to support a successful hockey team, he hoped to show the students that opportunities at Nassau Coliseum abound even for those who have never strapped on a pair of skates. The experience gave students a fresh dose of motivation and opened up new avenues of opportunity for them. Student Even Nissenbaum said, "The program made me feel like I could go out and really do something in the world. For me, this could be a segue into an internship or a future job with the Islanders."

Although the experience was rewarding, the students also grew to understand the range of skills required and the challenges involved in creating, launching and running a successful business venture. "I found the selling part most challenging, because I don't consider myself a very outgoing person. The experience showed me that, to be a salesperson, you have to be able to put yourself out there," said student, Alexa Rubinstein. "However, I enjoyed getting a taste of the business world. The experience definitely made me consider business as a career in the future."

Some fans may recognize the lighthouse logo that Hat Trick chose to resurrect. The students hoped that their customers would enjoy their tribute to Islanders history with a modern twist. They also looked forward to seeing dozens of fans donning their new caps while celebrating Islanders victories. Student Troy Amari commented, "We put so much effort into the hats we made. Seeing people actually wearing them is very exciting. We learned that business takes hard work, but you can find great success in the end."

The hats seemed to make a positive impression on many of the Islanders fans. The students even received some unit orders from out of state from fans who wished to support their venture.

For further information on JANY press, contact:

Jacqueline Dolly
Senior Director of Marketing & Communications
Junior Achievement of New York, Inc.
205 East 42 Street, Suite 203
New York, NY 10017

Phone: 212.907.0046
Fax: 212.949.5262
E-mail: communications@jany.org