Crest Academy Market Sells Creativity
The Crest Academy held its annual Market in its new location at 627 Oak Street in Salida on Wednesday night, May 10. Here, students enter the retail world with their own product, a business license on display, a Venmo account, cash box, and market space.
Liam Kliewer sells stress balls and fidgets at Crest Academy Market. Susan Roebuck photo
The Market is a chance to mingle, view a vast variety of handmade products, provide real-life retail interactions, and purchase one-of-a-kind items.
Many offerings are ingenious, from tote-bags made from T-shirts, to charcuterie serving slabs, and breadboards made from live-edge timbers left over from a dad’s home-building business.
Before the product ever goes to market there is learning and work—from assessing market trends to preparing the products.
Liam Kliewer, seeing the need for stress-balls and fidgets, has Dem Fidgets. Dem Fidgets are made from balloons filled with sand or other materials. The balloons are layered and cut-out so that they are colorful and interesting to the eye as well as soothing and fun for handling.
Moving around the expansive venue, the scene was boisterous with happy shoppers perusing the wares and visiting friends.
Sophia Almeida’s business, Mossify, sells “adoptable” moss balls in small jars filled with water. Susan Roebuck photo
Parents, grandparents, and siblings of Crest students were on hand, as well as many whose friends’ children are Crest students, and others who simply know about the annual Market and enjoy the experience.
Sophia Almeida’s business, Mossify, sells “adoptable” moss balls in small jars filled with water. Marimo moss balls live in fresh water, and grow 5 millimeters per year.
In nature they are rolled and tossed about within the currents of their home waters, keeping them round and healthy. So Almeida sells each moss ball with care instructions: “To maintain the ball, agitate daily.”
Ash Guymon offers Eco-Totes. Guymon sewed the sleeves and lower hems together, creating expandable totes which come in several sizes and designs.
Ash Guymon sells expandable Eco-Totes made from T-shirts. Susan Roebuck photo
This was not the first market for most of the students. One who spoke with Ark Valley Voice remembered her first market, which took place during COVID-19. It was online and not the lively evening the crowd enjoyed last night.
Some students have experienced more than six years of markets. For adults, the annual Crest Academy Market is a chance to socialize as well as discover a variety of retail offerings made by students. It is an opportunity for Crest students to dive into the experience of running a business.
Featured image: Sophia Almeida’s business, Mossify, sells “adoptable” moss balls in small jars filled with water. Deb Bass photo
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