Trading with Innovation

Click to enlarge
PreMaid Parties

Click to enlarge
Ensiform

MEDIA RELEASE

Trading with Innovation

Innovation was to the fore among North Shore Young Enterprise Scheme companies represented at a Regional Trade Fair on Sunday.

Held alongside the Auckland Food Show at the ASB showgrounds the Trade Fair encompassed 65 secondary school companies from across the Auckland region, 35% of which were from the North Shore. Each company used the Trade Fair to launch their products.

Organised and sponsored primarily by Enterprise New Zealand Trust with assistance from Enterprise North Shore, the atmosphere was phenomenally positive and upbeat with the Pinehurst School Jazz Band playing live on site.

Methods used by each company to advertise were just as innovative as the products and services they were selling.

Magno Covers, from Long Bay College, displayed their magnetic inlay carseat covers by bringing a new, blue Toyota Echo right into the hall and filling it with balloons; the person who guessed the right number of balloons won a carseat cover valued at $65.

A six foot, bright yellow fluffy chicken promoted the MP3 player car charger for Microcharge from Rangitoto College; two teenage fairies advertised the organisation of children’s birthday parties by PreMaid Parties from Long Bay College.

Ensiform, also from Long Bay College, have created a computer game for 10-15 year old boys called “White Monk”. A tall, serious monk actively promoted the game to visiting children and their parents.

For those wishing to take the weight off their feet, Reall Set from Kingsway College supplied couches, flowers, fresh coffee, brownies and free nail treatments on their stand to promote their corporate gift boxes.

And for the little children, Limelight from Northcote College promoted their very adorable hippos with heart shaped heated Wheatbagss zipped inside, zapped in a microwave on the stall so visitors could feel for themselves the warmth of the baby’s safe bedmate.

An impressively attired company from Westlake Boys High School, Novulus, promoted their “Unicator” – a simple but effective device to help scatterbrained people find their keys, remote control, cell phone etc.

There were Cliché Ball Photos, Pucci Products’ waterproof dog beds, Cybersitters’ online babysitting services, Breeze surfboard training fins, Kiwi Gleam toothbrushes preloaded with toothpaste and many, many more innovative products on sale.

Actively promoting the Trade Fair to people attending the Food Show, foot traffic through the hall was higher than any other year – which was of significant benefit for Maxiot from Rangitoto who ran the sausage sizzle at the door.

Dianne Hale, Deputy Mayor of North Shore City, judged the “Best Stall” for the entire Auckland Region and spent time meeting with the companies and discussing their ideas with them before she and National MP Nicky Wagner presented the prize to St Cuthbert’s College for their car rubbish bin holder.

Dwayne Smith, owner of Horizon Pacific in Albany, judged the “Best Product” category, awarding the prize to Pukekohe High School for their innovative WOF indicator which changes colour when the warrant is due.

Background:

There are 43 YES Companies across 14 secondary schools participating in YES in the North Shore Region.

Students participating in YES form a legal company, open a bank account and prepare a Business Plan. Their attendance at the Trade Fair was optional; companies paid for the privilege of displaying their wares and all efforts in the presentation of the stalls and products was their own.

About Enterprise North Shore Trust:

Enterprise North Shore was established by North Shore City Council as North Shore City’s economic development agency, in 1993. Enterprise North Shore serves as North Shore City's primary engine for sustainable economic development, and supports the development of local and regional strategies for the creation of a vibrant and buoyant economy.

ENDS

See also: www.ens.org.nz and www.enzt.co.nz/~yesWeb/index.asp

© Scoop Media