What started as an idea developed in the back of the library has turned into thriving business for two fifth graders at Bovina Elementary.

Three mornings a week from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Luci Madison and Addison Keller run a school supplies store in the school library. The pair started the store Nov. 3 and in less than a month have already raised nearly $500 from the store.

“A lot,” Keller said of what went into starting the store. “We made a Google Docs where we had to show it to Mrs. (Miki) Gin (the school principal), then we had to buy supplies and get the cart decorated and figure out how to work the cash register. It was a lot of work.”

The store sells everything from pens and pencils to folders, notebooks and expo markers with most items ranging from 50 cents to $2.

“We do it every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” Madison said. “The most tiring is having to wake up and get here at 7:15.”

As part of starting the store, the pair did a survey of teachers and students to see what they should do with the money. In a close race it was decided that they would raise money to install an outside water fountain at the school.

“When we are outside for recess, we usually get hot in the summer,” Keller said. “We usually can’t go inside to go the bathroom or get water so you can just lineup to get water right there outside.”

The fountain is expected to cost about $2,000 to purchase and they have a meeting planned with a plumber to see what will go into installing it.

“I think I’ve learned you can do something if you try,” Madison said. “Addi and me aren’t scared of stuff, we don’t have stage fright or anything like that so usually most of the stuff we do we make it happen.”

They help promote the store with an announcement over the intercom each morning it is open and they are working on building advertisements that can be shown in classrooms the day before. 

In just the first few weeks the store has been open they have already had to restock supplies five times. Many of the additional supplies have been donated by parents, but Keller purchased the initial supplies with $30 she had won barrel racing.

“I like seeing all the little kids,” Keller said. “I don’t get to see the little kids all the time and they help us out a lot. None of the big kids ever come.”

Madison said the only thing they argue about when running the store is who gets to run the cash register because it is “more fun” and also maybe whose idea the store originally was.