From Franchising to Flat Tires — A Day We Won’t Forget at Metal Supermarkets
On Wednesday, our students learned about the legal side of franchising. Less than 24 hours later, they got to see what that looks like in real life — inside the walls of Metal Supermarkets in O’Fallon.
From the moment we walked through the door, Shawn Scott, the owner (and Mascoutah graduate), made us feel right at home. His excitement about CEO was contagious — he’d first met our students at the Meet & Greet in September and was immediately struck by their energy and curiosity. That same spark filled the room as he welcomed them with open arms, a big smile, and yes… doughnuts and juice. One of our girls joked, “At this rate, we may need to start adding morning workouts to our CEO schedule!”
Shawn didn’t ease us in — he led the class straight into the warehouse, a space that was spotless, labeled, and efficient down to the last piece of metal. “My customers’ time is money,” he said. “They have to find what they need fast.” His pride in that detail said everything — excellence isn’t always flashy; sometimes, it’s just clean floors and smart systems.
Next, he brought us to the front office, explaining how he subleases part of the space to another business to keep his overhead down. The students quickly realized that success isn’t always about expansion — it’s about making wise decisions that keep you sustainable.
And then, the real magic happened.
Shawn looked at the group and smiled. “I didn’t prepare a fancy PowerPoint,” he said. “I just want to talk to you from the heart.”
He told his story — about growing up with very little, about ramen noodle dinners that were the norm, and about how he learned early that hard work always matters. That mindset carried him through every stage of life — every success and setback — until he and his business partner opened their first Metal Supermarkets in Missouri in 2019, and then their O’Fallon location in January 2024.
He explained that choosing a franchise gave him the support and structure he needed to own a business, while still allowing him to build something uniquely his own. And then came the advice our students will never forget:
• Surround yourself with a strong network of people.
• Learn from others’ mistakes — because you don’t have time to make them all yourself.
• Communicate clearly, stay organized, and always work the grind.
His words stuck — but so did his kindness. Less than an hour after we left, my phone buzzed with messages from Shawn:
“Thank you so much for bringing the class through! I genuinely enjoyed the time with them and find myself excited to see where they take themselves in life! What a great group of kids…
I completely understand and can relate to feeling their energy — it’s very contagious, and I’m currently riding that high.
I feel like you may have the best job ever. Awesome, simply awesome.”
He wasn’t wrong — this job is awesome every day, but especially on days like this.
And just when we thought the morning couldn’t get any better, real life stepped in with one final lesson. As we walked out the door, one of our girls realized she had a flat tire. Without hesitation, a few of our CEO boys rolled up their sleeves — business clothes and all — and got to work. They didn’t think twice. Because that’s what we do do for each other.
Thank you, Shawn Scott and Metal Supermarkets, for opening your doors and sharing not just your business, but your story. You reminded us that success isn’t about where you start — it’s about how hard you’re willing to work, how much you’re willing to learn, and how big your heart stays along the way.