Melissa High School’s student-operated store, Red Nation Outfitter, is officially open for business following a successful Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held Wednesday, February 25, becoming an official member of the Melissa Chamber of Commerce. The event celebrated the hard work, creativity, and dedication of Melissa ISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Practicum of Marketing and Entrepreneurship students, who built and launched the business from the ground up, empowering students through real-world learning opportunities.
“Today's ribbon cutting was a celebration that placed our students' vision and hard work on full display,” said CTE Director Hallie Venner. “Red Nation Outfitter brings together multiple programs of study within the CTE department. These students and their amazing advisors worked endlessly to create a business plan, design products and produce the products. Today, Melissa Cardinals got to officially cut the ribbon on their store and welcome the public in! I am so proud of our students' vision, determination, and effort. It’s a great day to be a Cardinal!"
Students, staff, families, community members, and district leaders gathered to mark the milestone, including Melissa ISD Board of Trustees members Paul Anderson, Darren Thompson, and Dr. Bill Gray. The strong turnout reflected the community’s pride in its students, with many attendees showing their support by shopping in-store and purchasing exclusive Melissa Cardinals merchandise.
“Being a part of Red Nation Outfitter for the last two years and being able to participate in cutting the ribbon today was an unbelievable opportunity,” said senior Olivia Marrott, who has been a part of the school store since the beginning. “Our teacher Ms. Hobbs has truly been such an incredible role model and has helped pave the way to my future career. I am blessed for this experience that Ms. Hobbs, the school, and the community have helped to provide.”
The growth of Red Nation Outfitter has been remarkable. After beginning sales in Spring 2025 and generating $15,000 in total sales, the student-run business has already exceeded $50,000 in sales during the 2025-2026 school year. On today’s Grand opening event, sales totaled an impressive $2,253, demonstrating the enthusiasm and support from the Melissa community.
“The Grand Opening of Red Nation Outfitter represents more than just a school store, it’s a real-world learning experience brought to life,” said Shanna Hobbs, the MHS Red Nation Outfitter sponsor. “Our students have worked tirelessly to build this brand from the ground up, applying their creativity, marketing skills, and entrepreneurial mindset to serve our community. We are incredibly proud to open our doors and showcase what hands-on education can truly accomplish.”
Junior Kasen Ozols expressed his gratitude, “I am so thankful to Ms. Hobbs for giving me the opportunity to join the school store and help run it! It makes me so happy to see all of this coming together and now being open for not just us but the public!”
The Red Nation Outfitter campus storefront will be open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until May 8, 2026. Customers can also shop online 24/7 at www.melissaisd.org/rno.
Red Nation Outfitter provides students with valuable, real-world experience in business operations, including marketing, customer service, inventory management, branding, and sales. Making this day a success required the hands-on skills and experience from students in multiple CTE programs: Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Business Management, Social Media Marketing, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Photography, Accounting, Business Communications, and Construction.
A big thank you to all of the CTE teachers and students who worked so hard to bring Red Nation Outfitter to life. Their dedication, teamwork, and commitment made this vision a reality, and their efforts continue to make a positive impact in our district.
We are so proud of all the students and staff who have made Red Nation Outfitter such a success! We look forward to seeing their continued growth as they operate and expand their business.
