Spartan Shack takes virtual leap with new website

Spartan gear is now a mouse click away.

Superior High School students have opened a Spartan Shack website in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After hosting a soft opening for district employees to work out kinks, the site is now live.

“We wanted a way to offer our authentic Spartan gear to the community,” said business and marketing teacher Tara Hansen.

The Spartan Shack, an in-school store, has been providing young people with hands-on business experience for decades. Students run a live retail store and learn all aspects of a school-based enterprise — ordering, design, sales, marketing, social media marketing, promotions, profit/loss and more.

“The Spartan Shack is the home for our Spartan gear. The students really take pride in designing, selling and seeing their work being worn in the community,” Hansen said. “It really is a wonderful connection.”

Although the storefront is open to students during set school hours, community members aren’t allowed in the building this year due to the district's COVID-19 safety restrictions.

Hansen lofted the idea of a website to her entrepreneurship students.

“They were brought in and took on the project with a lot of energy and learned quickly,” Hansen said.

The virtual storefront offers a history of the enterprise, as well as a chance to browse the selection of SHS-themed hats, shirts, spirit gear, outerwear, gaiters, masks and more. Customers can email their order, make the purchase online and pick their items up outside the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays during scheduled delivery times. There is also an option to have an SHS student pick up the order.

The shop offers something for everyone, Hansen said, and the inventory is set to increase Nov. 1 with the addition of new T-shirts, blue light glasses, water bottles and 2020 Spartan blankets.

Students in the entrepreneurship and introduction to marketing classes are running the Spartan Shack this semester. The retail and fashion merchandising classes will run it during the second semester. Hansen said they plan to retain the online shopping option even when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. She encouraged everyone to check out the new website.

“We would like the community to know this is the only place to get authentic Spartan gear inspired and designed by your Spartans,” she said.

1/5: Juniors Alcia Willoughby, left, Samantha Olson run an order from the Spartan Shack out from door E16 at Superior High School Thursday morning. The Spartan Shack now offers online purchasing. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)

2/5: Freshman Tre Sanigar, left, and sophomore Caitlynn Wuolu check over inventory before emailing the buyer back their bill at the Spartan Shack at Superior High School Thursday morning. The Spartan Shack now offers online purchasing. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)

3/5: Juniors Alcia Willoughby, left, Samantha Olson run an order from the Spartan Shack out from door E16 at Superior High School Thursday morning. The Spartan Shack now offers online purchasing. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)

4/5: Superior High School students, left to right, Chance Davis, Ava Denninger and Grace Lemke, model items available at the Spartan Shack. The students have worked with business teacher Tara Hansen to create a virtual storefront for the community. (Courtesy of Tara Hansen)

5/5: Superior High School students, left to right, Chloe Quick, Will Lampton, Logan Hubbard, Tyler Fredrich and Jon Kaske, model items available at the Spartan Shack. The students have worked with business teacher Tara Hansen to create a virtual Spartan Shack storefront for the public. (Courtesy of Tara Hansen)