CBT Launches Student-Run Storefront

Beginning this fall, the College of Business and Technology (CBT) at Northeastern State University will launch an exciting new initiative designed to bring business education to life: the CBT Storefront. As part of a newly offered section of the College’s Experiential Learning course, students will take full responsibility for launching and operating a real, functioning storefront—learning by doing while also giving back.

Under the guidance of faculty and staff mentors Dr. LeShay McNack and Susie Radomski from the CBT business office, students will handle every aspect of the operation. This includes setting up the store, sourcing products, managing inventory, fulfilling orders, and tracking sales. Each semester, a new student team will pick up where the last left off, building on previous work while bringing in fresh ideas and strategies.

What sets the CBT Storefront apart is its commitment to community impact. All profits generated through the store will be used to support a community partner or individual in need, with each semester’s recipient chosen by the student group running the store. This social entrepreneurship model ensures students don’t just learn how to run a business—they learn how to use business for good.

“This project is about more than gaining business experience,” said Dr. McNack. “It’s about showing students the power they have to make a difference through smart, thoughtful, real-world action.”

Seed funding for the CBT Storefront came from NSU’s Spring 2025 Week of Giving, held in March, where the College raised more than $3,700 in donations. A significant portion of those funds has been dedicated to helping launch the storefront and support the first student cohort in Fall 2025.

Faculty involved in the effort view it as a transformative opportunity for students to engage deeply with operations, marketing, budgeting, and strategic planning—all while developing teamwork, leadership, and ethical decision-making skills.

“This is what experiential learning is all about,” said CBT Dean, Dr. Janet Buzzard. “The students aren’t just learning concepts. They’re building something real—and they’re doing it with purpose.”

With plans to evolve semester by semester, the CBT Storefront represents a long-term commitment to hands-on learning, student leadership, and community connection. It’s more than just a store—it’s a movement in the making.