The CleanGo team, from left, Nathalie Tate, Katie Te Ao, Cheyenne Oliver, Archie Martin and Anesu Chikwiri.
Two St Peter’s School teams made the top six, out of 54, at the Waikato Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) Annual Awards.
The competition challenges Year 12 and 13 students to set up and run their own businesses – creating, promoting, and selling a product or service, as well as conducting market research, planning, budgeting and managing risk.
The St Peter’s groups CleanGo and Me to You will be judged at the regional finals next Thursday at Wintec’s central Hamilton campus.
“Learning how to fail fast, that was the start,” said Archie Martin from CleanGo. “We tried so much stuff and just had to eliminate it.
The group, which also includes Anesu Chikwiri, Cheyenne Oliver, Katie Te Ao and Nathalie Tate, made 50 five-packs of small, single use shampoo and conditioner bars.
After their first pitch to the YES judges, held in a Dragon’s Den style format, they made a few adjustments after realising their product could pose a risk to a child – because it smelled good and looked like chocolate.
They are working on a video with their last pitch to the judges.
Me to you, from left, Renee Edge, Stella Soar and Kate Rorison. Absent: Mina Sorm.
Kate Rorisin, Renee Edge, Stella Soar and Mina Sorm, as Me to You, came up with a gift box which has a healthy focus but still offers sweet treats and has a minimal environmental impact.
“We tried to focus it around wellbeing because that’s quite a trend at the moment,” said Stella.
It had been quite a challenge over the past few months, they said, after two team members left school.
“So we had to put more time into it… but we’re really happy with the final result,” said Renee.
The girls had learned communication was key, with both suppliers and themselves, and they quickly learnt the importance of measurements – having to order in a different box after realising their first one they chose was too small.
Business studies teacher Chris Macleod, who has also placed as a finalist at the YES awards for “Most Inspiring Teacher”, said both teams had stuck strong to their values.
“The best part of my job is watching the unlocking of the students’ entrepreneurial potential. I am immensely proud of both groups and what they have achieved this year, and that they have done this together.”
