No Fun Left Behind

Our Story...

In 2007, after almost ten years of teaching experience Shifon Berumen decided to start her own business. But what kind? After much thought and deliberation, she realized what made the most sense was to sell teaching supplies. With very little money, she started an online business selling educational supplies, but quickly realized she couldn't compete with well established businesses like CM or Lakeshore. She knew she had to go a different route.

After one of her friends complained that she could get $80 to take her honor's class on a fieldtrip, Shifon saw an opportunity to be different and help teachers. She came up with the idea of selling educational supplies in bulk to teachers and giving them back a percentage of their initial purchase so those funds could be used for fieldtrips and other other classroom essentials.Thus began her REBATE PROGRAM. In many districts, teacher are not allowed to pay for their own trips out of their own pocket, but there are few rules against a third party making a "donation" to the school fund. 

Through the Rebate Program, Shifon was able to help a school buy a playset, another pay for a reading program, and yet another toys for a preschool. Seeing the rewards of giving, Shifon created other ways to give back to the community, via the WISHLIST PROGRAM and the TRADE-IN PROGRAM. Please visit these other list for more information. Shifon believes, if we all support eachother then no only will no child be left behind, but then No Fun will be Left Behind either!

Our Business

Shifon wanted her store to have a different feel and look. She wants her store to have a clean "modern" look by not overcrowding the shelves and overloading the teachers with so many choices that teachers spend too much time finding what they want. She works hard to interview her customers to know exactly what they need and find out who they think have the best publishers and manufacturers.

Currently...

The store has closed and Shifon has returned to teaching. But NFLB will continue to live online for the mean time while other arrangements are made.

The Future...

Although the store was small, Shifon believes with the support of the community she will be able to grow her business even after it goes through its current transition.

"There are very few teacher supply stores in a 20 mile radius of Whittier, and of course, no other teacher supply store in Whittier," says Shifon. "And yet, Whittier is full of teachers that work in the surrounding cities. If I can get the support of these teachers, I believe I can grow my store into a better place than CM and Lakeshore because I'm not in this to get rich. I don't have to answer to a board of directors.

"I want to help make a change in my local schools, including the schools my children go to. I want to support the fun that school use to represent: the fieldtrips, art, music, and the other enrichment programs... School can't just be about test scores. I have a life-long love of learning. I got that attitude from the schools I went to and the great teachers who enjoyed working with their students. I can't say that schools inspire that same attitude today. Teachers are so overworked and put upon by the system, how much harder it must be to inspire students to rise while bearing the yoke of rules and standards."

Mission Statement