New Hampshire

Sanborn students market products in use centuries ago

Students make old-style goods, use modern selling techniques

By Jarret Bencks
jbencks@eagletribune.com
Published: January 14, 2009

KINGSTON — Supply-and-demand curves and learning about America during the Revolution might not seem like they go hand in hand, but for some classes at Sanborn Regional High School, it's a perfect combination.

Students in economics and American studies classes have been working to develop products that would have been useful during the American Revolution.

The products must be made from materials available during that time. But the students used modern strategies for determining how they would sell and promote them — like Web surveys and price analysis charts — to analyze the economic end of their product.

"They use the advertising tactics of today, but they are developing a project that is more simplistic," economics teacher Lea Ann Jules said.

Students in Jules' classes and English teacher Patrice Glancey's American studies classes have been working on the projects since November. Their work has included a research paper on the Revolutionary War era, and converting costs of materials from the 18th century to modern values.

All students will need to have their products ready in time for a mock trade show later in the month. More than 30 products will be on display.

Yesterday, students continued their market research during the school day, pitching their products to passers-by in a hallway.

Many of the products looked to address the lack of hygiene common during the time period. Chelsea Angus tried to lure students headed to class with all-natural, scented hair conditioner at a price of 3 schillings.

"People's hair was greasy and smelly back then," she said. "We want to make it nice and smooth."

Sophomore Beathea Phelan developed a tooth cleaning powder. Similar products were available during the 18th century, but Phelan's group looked to make their powder tastier than the competition.

"They made it with orange rind," she said. "We found that it didn't taste so good, so we revised the formula."

Another group of students looked to address a problem that faced society at that time — witches.

"We realized there was a big problem with witches in Salem, and we could come up with a way to make people safe," said Krista Sonia, 15.

Her group was pitching blessed flags, which they said would make the purchaser's home "safe from witches." The group had small sample flags to distribute, but have yet to make their product.

"It will have to be durable to stand up to the weather," Sonia said. "And it needs to be able to stand up to witches, too."

The mock trade show will take place at the high school Jan. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. It is open to the public.

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