Business plan winners announced

Business plan winners announced

— From left: Elliott Hill, Price Murphree, and Brandy Porter

Price Murphree’s concept of a store featuring products made by Arkansas artisans earned the Henderson junior first place and $4,000 in the annual BBA Solutions Business Plan Competition at Henderson. The Camden native’s “Homegrown” store proposal features food, crafts, apparel, beers and wines that would all be produced in the state.

With $9,000 in prize money at stake, the competition is open to all undergraduates regardless of major. Participating students must develop a feasible business idea and convert it to a business plan before presenting the proposal to a panel of judges.

Second place and $3,000 went to Elliott Hill of London, England, for “The Austin Eatery. “Sickics,” presented by Brandy Porter of Glenwood, placed third, earning her $2,000.

All three students qualified to compete for an additional $10,000 against Ouachita Baptist University in the Battle of the Ravine Business Plan Competition next semester.

Other Henderson students competing were Hayden Lessenberry of Benton, Adrianne Hancock of Hot Springs, Jessica Jenkins of Mabelvale, and Cody Clayton of Sulphur Springs, Texas.

The competitions spark both entrepreneurial and economic activity, providing students with a realistic approach to the business world. The entrepreneurship skills required for the competition help students use business knowledge beyond the classroom.

BBA Solutions was founded in 1996 by James Barnes, a graduate of Henderson’s School of Business. He opened the Reddie or Not Bookstore as an off-campus solution for the college textbook market. He has grown the bookstore company to include more than 100 colleges and universities in 20 states and has become a leader in the college textbook industry.