Spirit Box is an all-in-one educational tool that teaches students how to be an entrepreneur and run a business. Built for teachers and career and technology administrators, Spirit Box offers hands-on learning, curriculum, professional development and student certification. It’s the only educational system that checks all of the boxes toward career pathways certification–all while generating revenue for the school’s programs.
FOR TEACHERS
A turnkey curriculum in business management and entrepreneurship - all with the ongoing support of the Spirit Box team. We provide an out-of-the-box operational system your school can plug into on day one without the risks and pains of a traditional startup.
““My students have learned pricing, cash flow, and why some products don’t sell. They can read it in a book, but until they actually experience it first-hand, they don’t understand it.” ”
For Career and Technology Educators
An educational teaching system that meets many of the standards for career pathways in marketing, business and entrepreneurship. The program is easy for advisors to implement and the network of other Spirit Box teachers ensures you’ll always have a resource for ways to engage students in a hands-on learning environment.
For Students
Are you a business student interested in running a Spirit Box business at your school? Maybe you’ve seen one at another school in your district or heard about the Spirit Box from a fellow DECA or FBLA member. Well, here’s a pitch deck you can download and customize, then present to your teacher or administration. After all, an important step to starting any business is to present the business case and secure funding!
“The Spirit Box has allowed me to expand my knowledge in the field of business, I will be able to stand out in a crowd and thrive at nearly any occupation and accomplish any task I am assigned.”
SPIRIT BOX HIGH SCHOOLS
We piloted the first Spirit Box businesses in 2009. In just over a decade, Spirit Box is now located in 16 states across the country. Many of these districts have experienced phenomenal results!
Frequently Asked Questions
+ What makes Spirit Box School Store different?
Spirit Box is more than just a vending machine. It’s an educational small business enterprise complete with curriculum, on-site support, on-site training, and student certification. Plus, it’s easy to install and implement, with a turn-key business management and entrepreneurship program that’s easy for teachers to manage, while challenging and fun for students - all while generating revenue.
+ How can I purchase the Spirit Box program?
Spirit Box qualifies as Career and Technical Education, and often meets requirements for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act grant funding. The application and purchase process can be started by clicking here.
+ What is the deadline to sign-up?
You can launch a Spirit Box School Based Enterprise (SBE) at any point throughout the year.
+ How soon can we launch our Spirit Box business?
In less than seven weeks! A typical process for getting your Spirit Box up and running includes: Week 1: We'll design your school branded custom graphics wrap. Weeks 2-4: We manufacture your Spirit Box vending machine. Week 5: Your Spirit Box is shiped and delivered. Week 6: We schedule an on-site training with teachers and students on how to operate and stock the Spirit Box machine. Week 7: Go live and start selling!
+ What is the cost of implementing the Spirit Box Enterprise program?
Year one Investment: $13,750. This includes a state-of-the-art vending machine that your school owns, CTE aligned curriculum with over 30 lessons, an inventory starter-pack (approx. $1,500 retail value), onsite training at your school, as well as ongoing program support, online sales reporting and resources throughout the year!
+ Can I offset the cost?
Many high schools have used the revenue they generate from their Spirit Box to pay for the cost of the program and several schools have generated enough revenue to cover the costs within the first two years.
+ What training is involved?
Once you purchase your Spirit Box School Store, we will come on-site to take you through all the inner workings of the machine, as well as offer training and support on how to implement the Spirit Box curriculum. Often, this training qualifies toward continuing education credit hours.
+ What happens if the machine breaks down?
We have a network of technicians available nationwide to help with onsite technical/mechanical issues with your Spirit Box if needed, but often times we can troubleshoot issues with you or your student manager over the phone.
+ What is the ongoing Spirit Box support package?
Spirit Box supports your team with ongoing account management, onsite technical service as needed, and credit card processing/management services (among other tools and services). These are all included in the year 1 investment and can be renewed for just $925 per year after year 1. While Spirit Box school teams have expressed that the ongoing support package is very valuable to the success of their program, it is not required.
+ What support is included?
Each Spirit Box team is assigned an account manager for yearlong ongoing support, as well an area technician for any onsite technical support needed. Also, check out our growing online resource library including lesson plans, templates and best practices. Spirit Box also manages credit card services and simply cuts the school a check quarterly for credit card and smart payment sales!
+ How does the curriculum work?
The Spirit Box curriculum was developed by educational experts with first-hand experience teaching small business enterprise in the classroom. Each part of the curriculum has been carefully constructed so all you need to do is download the lesson plans and do what you do best - teach.
+ How are credit card transactions reconciled with the school and how often?
The school will be sent a check quarterly for the total amount of credit card transactions through their Spirit Box, minus the transaction and processing fee (flat 5%).
+ What payment methods does that Spirit Box accept?
Cash, Discover, American Express, Visa, Mastercard Credit Cards, Visa and Mastercard Debit cards, as well as Google Wallet and Apple Pay. The machine must be stocked regularly in order to dispense change and will require $1 coins.
+ What should we plan to stock in our Spirit Box?
The products and product placement within the Spirit Box is completely up to you and your team. Spirit Box will provide an initial inventory starter pack that will fill about half of your Spirit Box (five trays). Aside from this initial inventory, we recommend basic school branded items like T-shirts, hats and lanyards, as well as some basic consumables like sugar free gum, chapstick amd hand lotion which can be easily sourced from your local Sam’s Club, Costco or Walmart.
+ What is the basic process of running the vending machine?
We recommend that you select one-to-five students to be the primary Spirit Box managers. Tasks can be delegated to additional students if more would like to participate. We will communicate with you and your Spirit Box managers throughout the school year to help with managing the machine. Check out more here: [Spirit Box Management Team][2]. [2]: https://www.spiritboxnation.com/management-team
+ Where should the Spirit Box be placed?
The boxes are manufactured to be placed in a climate controlled indoor space and with no internet signal needed. We recommend high traffic areas like lunch rooms, outside the gym area or in a commons area that is also available outside of school hours to capture before and afterschool event sales.
+ What are the dimensions of the Spirit Box?
The dimensions of the Spirit Box are: 72" tall, 44" wide, 35" deep and 610 pounds.
+ What electrical outlet is needed?
Just a standard 3-prong outlet. That's it!