STRICTLY BUSINESS: BOSS TEACHES YOUNGSTERS TO TAKE CHARGE

The key to success in any business is gaining a competitive advantage. And, it doesn't take a huge competitive advantage to become successful.

Mark Schneider, a student at Massac County High School in Metropolis, learned about competitive edges last summer, during a five-day program conducted by the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service.

Schneider was one of a dozen students from Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski and Union counties who participated in a pilot project, Business Opportunity Success Strategies (BOSS), designed to teach youngsters the fundamentals for starting their own business while still in high school.

"The program was great," said Schneider, who now has his own company, "The Affordable D.J.," which provides music for area parties and dances. "We researched the feasibility of the business -- potential customers, marketing area, capital, and even a business logo and card."

One of Schneider's first engagements was a show for a teen retreat dance sponsored by the extension service.

"The schedule has been light this summer," Schneider said, but I'm filling some dates for the coming school year."

Schneider's service is designed for private parties, school parties and dances.

The BOSS program is being offered to high school freshmen and sophomores in the five-county unit, called the AJMPU Unit.

The program teaches students the basic fundamentals for starting their own business while in high school, said Deborah Simmons, a unit leader with the University of Illinois extension. The program is in response to many high school graduates who feel work and business opportunities aren't available in their community.

"They move away and we lose one of greatest resources -- our youth," Simmons said.

The BOSS program was developed and implemented last year by three extension educators, Norma Turok, Glenda Huffman and Doug Thompson.

"We want youths to see the potential for successful business opportunities in their own hometown," said Turok, who has written a book, "Business Plans," which is being used to teach the class.

The program isn't only for the best students, say Turok and Simmons.

"The program is not for everyone," said Turok, who has an office in the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Business Incubator. "It takes an individual who is enthusiastic and motivated to work hard. It is not necessary that students come to camp with a business idea. We just need students to come to the camp with the desire to start a business."

The camp is held at Touch of Nature Camp, between Carbondale and Giant City State Park. The site, Turok said, is ideal, with motel-type rooms and conference meeting facilities.

This year's program is scheduled Aug. 7-10.

There are still a few openings left for the 1995 camp. And, although the program is designed for students in the five-county Southern Illinois area, Turok said she would talk with potential entrepreneurs from other areas, including Missouri.

The young entrepreneurs are taught the same business planning process used for adults.

"When they walk into a bank we want them to know how to present their business facts and figures," Turok said.

Schneider didn't have to walk into a bank for financing. The young entrepreneur financed his project, using funds from a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant and lawn-mowing jobs. He started with used equipment, but has been upgrading it.

Schneider and the other 11 students from the 1994 program have been invited to stop by the 1995 class.

The program does not stop when the class is over.

"We keep in touch with the students," Turok said. "We've met with last year's students at least three times. Most of them have followed through and are doing something."

One of last year's students creates ceramics and has products in various shops on a consignment basis; another student has a lawn maintenance business and another young man and his father are pursuing the possibility of a sports card and record shop.

"We're pleased with our first year's project," Turok said. "The students' enthusiasm was good. Everybody helped each other."

One of the day's activities is a visit to the Southern Illinois University Library, where students can access needed information to determine their projects.

Not all is work during the program. . Students have opportunities for other activities, such as swimming and hiking.

Heard on the streets

Arby's Roast Beef Restaurant is gone.

The restaurant closed its doors recently and word is that an A & W Root Beer restaurant will move into the quarters at 204 N. Kingshighway.

Arby's opened in Cape Girardeau in mid-1988.

There is an empty space at 2109 Williams. The structure, which previously housed Godfather's Pizza, was demolished earlier this month to make way for a new service station-convenience store operation.

The city said so long (for now) to Godfather's earlier this year, and will welcome the new Rhodes 101 Service Center.

A Rhodes spokesman said plans were to construct the full-service center to replace the present adjacent Rhodes Service station at 2111 William.

Godfather's Pizza opened in Cape Girardeau in 1980, and the closing is only a temporary thing, said a Godfather spokesman.

"Our lease was not renewed on William Street," said Dennis Pierson, of the Omaha, Neb.-based company, which has more than 520 restaurants. "But, I think you may see another Godfather's Pizza in Cape Girardeau within a year,"

Another strip center?

Drury's Centre, a strip center at 3035 William, will house a 20,000-square-foot bookstore, Barnes and Noble, along with other smaller retailers.

We're also hearing that another strip center is being planned for Cape West Business Park, west of Interstate 55. No further details at this time.

B. Ray Owen is business editor and staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.