The Spirit Shop Grand Opening

“This is such a special day for our school,” said Mrs. Floyd, TCHS business teacher and program advisor. “It’s not only the grand opening of The Spirit Shop, but the beginning of something new and exciting for our students and community. Watching these students take ownership, collaborate as a team, and bring this vision to life has been incredibly rewarding.”

The Spirit Shop is fully student-managed, giving participants real-world business experience in areas such as marketing, accounting, graphic design, and customer service. Students applied for their positions by submitting résumés and cover letters before completing an interview process—mirroring an authentic hiring experience.

Co-Managers Parker Davis and Audrey Hicks expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity. “We are thrilled to welcome everyone to the ribbon cutting of The Spirit Shop at Taylor County High School,” said Davis. “We look forward to seeing how much we can grow this year.”

Audrey Hicks added, “Each member of our staff has been working hard over the past several weeks to prepare for this opening. This experience has given us a valuable look into the workforce and taught us the importance of teamwork and responsibility.”

The Spirit Shop will operate daily during 2nd and 3rd periods and is staffed by:

Co-Managers: Parker Davis and Audrey Hicks

Assistant Manager: Abigail Young

Stock Crew: Torri Taunton, Maggie Terry, Braylee Tucker, Brayden Phillips, Aubrey Humphress, Brianna Osinger, and Cherish Blythe

Accountants: Ella Taylor and Abigail Hodge

Graphic Designer: Kyndall Cox

Social Media Director: Hunter Farmer

Marketing Directors: Jamie Coffey and Graci Peavy

In addition to the in-person shop, the students launched an online store to serve a broader audience. “Our goal was to create a platform that allows parents, alumni, and community members to purchase Spirit Shop gear from anywhere,” said Jamie Coffey. “We carefully considered the needs of our school and community when planning our products, and we’re excited to keep expanding with new items and special releases throughout the year.”

To support marketing efforts, the team has also created official Instagram and Facebook pages for The Spirit Shop.
“These accounts will help us promote new merchandise, share special promotions, and highlight the amazing students behind the shop,” said Hunter Farmer. “We hope everyone follows us @taylorcountyspiritshop to stay up to date and show their Cardinal pride.”

The ribbon-cutting concluded with applause and celebration as students, staff, and guests gathered outside to officially open the shop. Attendees were invited to tour the space, shop, and speak with student staff members about the products and operations.

Mrs. Floyd expressed her gratitude to the Taylor County Board of Education, Mr. Braden, and Mr. Sanders for their support in launching the project. “Today represents what’s possible when students are empowered to take the lead,” she said. “We’re so proud of their hard work and can’t wait to see how The Spirit Shop continues to grow.”

The Spirit Shop is now open to the public online and to students during school hours. For updates and announcements, follow @taylorcountyspiritshop on social media.

Expect greatness from our career and technical education!