Wess. Springs students use sales on eBay as fundraisers

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WESSINGTON SPRINGS — What began as a class project has become the passion of one Wessington Springs High School student.

Lauriann Schimke, 18, is coordinating a project that takes items donated to the town’s consignment store and sells them on eBay, a popular online auction site. What would have normally fetched a couple of dollars at the Springs Area Community Club Consignment Store could net a substantial profit, Schimke said.

The project began as part of a business class taught by Erin Bergeleen, a Wessington Springs native who teaches business, science and math at the school.

Last fall, Bergeleen’s class researched eBay, studying what it takes to sell items on the website.

It took some time, but the research reached a point at which Bergeleen and her students felt comfortable listing items.

“It’s hard to find exactly what people want,” Bergeleen said. “It’s kind of trial and error.”

Now, with Schimke at the lead as part of an internship, items donated to the local consignment store are being listed on eBay.

At one point, the class sold two items for a total of more than $60. The group — selling under the user name “saccspringsarea” — currently has three items for sale. If sold at their asking price, it would mean $90 for the local store.

“I just want it to be worth something,” Schimke said. “I want it to keep going.”

Lance Witte, superintendent of the Wessington Springs School District, said the Springs Area Consignment store brought in approximately $56,000 in 2010. Of that, $20,000 went to consignors and $11,500 went to operating expenses, leaving about $24,000 that went back into the community in the form of scholarships and gifts to local charities and city programs.

“The bottom line is the students are selling these things for profits to increase the amount of money the store makes, but they’re also creating their own path for the future,” Witte said. “It’s a unique arrangement that we have in the community.”

After high school, Schimke hopes to study psychology and major in criminal justice, but she won’t forget the lessons she learned helping to raise money for the community she calls home.

“This is something new that I don’t already know,” Schimke said. “I have an interest in business. It’s not just sitting somewhere all day.”

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