HARRISONBURG — Bryan Huffman likes the sales business and hopes to be an entrepreneur when he grows up. And he’s been getting some experience lately.
The sixth-grader from Wilbur Pence Middle School has been marketing a calendar to support the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum.
"We’ve got about 1,000 copies pre-sold," Bryan, 11, said. "We’re going around to businesses to sell large quantities."
The son of Brenda and Gary Huffman of Harrisonburg, Bryan is a member of the museum’s Youth Advisory Board, a group of 15 kids ages 11 to 13, who worked on the project.
Called "Treasures of the Valley," the calendar features photographs taken by the calendar team with guidance from former Daily News-Record photo chief Allen Litten.
The project supports the museum’s learning experiences for children and will help defray expenses when it moves to a new location, said Executive Director Lisa Shull.
The museum plans to move into the former A&N store at 150 S. Main St., she explained.
"We hope to have a master plan completed by the end of September," Shull said. "But we don’t have a timeline for moving in; I wish it were soon."
The Business Plan
The museum’s Youth Advisory Board put together a business plan for the project, including a survey on what people would like to see featured and how much consumers would be willing to pay for the product, according to Shull.
They also enlisted some professional help.
Litten consulted on the photo sessions, helping the kids understand some of the basics of photography.
"We did all four seasons," Litten said. "I told the kids not to rely on what we did at the sessions, but to go out and prowl around on their own."
And always to carry an extra set of batteries, he added.
Graphic designer Fred Showker worked with the production team, laying out the photos and text and preparing the calendar to go to press.
The printing will be done at Good Printers in Bridgewater and should begin next week, said President Chester Bradfield.
"We’ll make it a lab experience for the kids," Bradfield said. "They can come out and watch how we do it."
The number of calendars to be printed will depend on pre-sales. At least 1,000 additional copies will be printed and made available at the museum and at events in the area.
"We plan to have them at festivals like Dayton Days," Bryan said. "We want to get the pre-sales done in the next few days."
Prices range from $14.96 for a single calendar to $9.95 each for purchases of 100 or more.
Bryan explained that he’s not nervous about meeting with business owners and asking for a large order.
"This is a great way to support local children," Bryan said. "It’s fun, but it’s also hard work."
WHERE TO CALL
Local businesses that want to place bulk orders for the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum calendar may call 442-8900 or visit the museum at 30 N. Main St. in Harrisonburg.
Contact Dan Wright at 574-6293 or dwright@dnronline.com
