BENTONVILLE — Kimberely Wary, a marketing teacher at Bentonville High School, is always looking for ways to expand learning.
"One of my main goals is to get them out of the classroom and into the business world," Wary said.
Wary found a way to do that after receiving an e-mail from Brown All Over Tanning Salon in Bentonville. The e-mail stated the business was holding a contest to rename and rebrand its image.
The contest immediately was turned into a lesson for Wary's 90 marketing students.
"The owner was dissatisfied with the overall image of the business," Wary said. "So I challenged the kids to come up with something new."
The business started as a tanning salon nearly 10 years ago, but in the past three years it has expanded to hair styling, manicures and pedicures and massages, owner Sharon Brown said.
"We had a lot of comments that everyone thought we were just a tanning salon," Brown said. That is why she decided to hold a contest for a new name.
Students in Wary's classes were asked to create a name and logo for the business.
"We basically rebranded the whole businesses," said Brendan Fife, a student in Wary's class. "We tried to incorporate the same color scheme, but changed it up."
Cameron Rose, another student in the class, said many of the suggested logos included images that represent services the salon offers including hair, nails and tanning.
Names included Melange, Serene Oasis, Sun Kissed, Beautiful You, The Habit and Evolve Salon.
Jen Haefner said she learned how a name and logo affect an audience. She is interested in a career that includes marketing.
"I like the idea of selling products and pleasing people," Haefner said.
AT A GLANCE
Gift Certificate Recipients
Five Bentonville High School students received two $30 gift certificates to Brown All Over Tanning and Salon after they helped rename the local business. The students are Rachel Stuckey, Peter Kane, Tyler McGarrah, Lily Chiang and Emily Willetts.
Source: Staff Report
The students learned how real the exercise was when they received a visit from Brown, who told them one of the names would be used.
"We voted in the salon and we decided on the name Evolve," Brown said. "We decided on Evolve because we have evolved into more than just a tanning salon."
Rachel Stuckey, a student in the five-person group that created the name Evolve Salon, said it is exciting to know the group named a local business.
"It's pretty cool," Stuckey said. "It is right by my house."
Stuckey said they chose the name Evolve because clients go to the business and change.
Brown said she was impressed with the names submitted by students in Wary's classes. She plans to change the name of the salon as soon as she has a sign designed. Brown also said she may decide to ask for the school's help again in the future.
The salon is at 1212 N. Walton Blvd.