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FIRST YEAR MINI COMPANIES

CHANGING SEASONS

Changing Seasons is a first year Royal School Mini Company. We produce and sell Seasonal Wooden Products
and Decorations. There are 5 members in the company-Ben Ritchie (Financial Director), Rebecca Cherry
(Production Manager), Louise Hastings (Sales Manager), Abbie Cowan (Advertising Manager), and myself,
Sophie Alexander (Managing Director).

Our first idea for a Mini Company was to produce homemade scented candles, but
as the making of them was very difficult and time consuming, we decided to make
wooden products instead. We searched the internet for product ideas. Our products
are made from locally sourced wood. We got some help from our parents to source
and cut the wood. We worked both on our own and as a group. We also got help from
Mr Robertson and Miss Argue, our business tutors.
To sell our products we went to many craft fairs, such as the Backyard and Virginia, we
also sold at a local school concert and in our school. So far we have made a profit of
over €1,400. Our best sellers were the snowmen and the reindeer. We are hoping to
sell more products at a car boot sale, this time Easter Related.
We put together a business report and entered into the Cavan Student
Enterprise Awards. We had to travel to the Slieve Russell Hotel in March to
be interviewed by the judges. We arrived about 8.30 in plenty of time to set
up our stand display. We were really happy with the way the day went and in
the end we were awarded first place in County Cavan, and are now getting
prepared for May 3rd when we shall go to Croke Park, to take part in the
National Student Enterprise Awards.

SHAKE & BAKE

In September 2016 our Business Studies teacher, Mr
Robertson told our class that the first years had the
opportunity to set up a Mini Company. Everyone in our
group loves baking, so we decided we would sell tray bakes.
There are five of us in the Mini Company: Heather McNeill
(Managing Director), Christabel Bakare (Finance), Owen
Curry (Sales and Production), Eniola Adeleke (Sales and
Marketing) and Shayna McCaffrey (Sales and Production).
We worked as a team to achieve as many sales and hence as big a profit as
possible. We had several sales at lunchtime in the schoolroom. Both students
and teachers bought our tray bakes and often complemented us on our
products. We also made some Gluten Free tray bakes. We didn’t want people
who are gluten intolerant to miss out on our tasty treats. In December we
went to a Christmas Craft Fair at the Backyard in Moynehall, Cavan, where we
sold quite a lot of tray bakes. We also had a Christmas sale in school so we were very busy.

After the Christmas holidays Mr. Robertson and Miss Argue told us that we would be going to a Mini Company Competition
in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell. This competition was organised by Cavan Enterprise. We entered the Junior
Category of the competition. We had to draw up a business report and prepare some products to show to the judges.
When we got to the Slieve Russell hotel we set up our stall. Thanks to Miss Argue, our stall looked great and we were very
pleased with it. After some time the judge came and tasted some of our products and interviewed us. We had to tell her
all about our Mini Company. To our delight, Shake & Bake came second place in the Junior Category.
We have learned a lot about running a business and have really enjoyed the experience. None of this would have been
possible without the help, guidance and encouragement of Miss Argue and Mr Robertson.
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