Four teams made up of high school students are part of the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES), attended Sunday’s market, including Southland Boys’ High School, Aparima College and Central Southland College.
Southland Boys’ student Chas Wyeth represented his company Trap Cap, co-founded with fellow year 12 students Aiden Teviotdale and Ariki Shoemark.
Their product is a cap that screwed on to recycled plastic bottles to trap wasps. Aiden said talking talking to people about his business had really boosted his confidence.
"People are curious about our product and how it works. Wasps are a real problem."
He said they had sold out that week and the previous week meaning they needed to increase their production output.
Sole trader Nina Thoroughgood was representing Aparima College. Her business Nifty sells 3-D printed vases, designed and printed by her.
Her primary sales channel is business-to-business and her products are sold exclusively in 10 stores across New Zealand.
She said the day at the market was one of the most successful she had ever had.
Another Southland Boys’ team, The Water Boys, specialised in exterior house cleaning.
Their team consisted of Tane Furlong, Romeo Gose, Joseph O’Connor, Mason Roberts and Benjamin Vesikuru.
The market was a successful day for them too, managing to secure four new clients, set to spend the next few days water blasting and cleaning windows.
Students got a head start on challenge three of the four challenges that YES sets for young entrepreneurs over the school year.
They needed to promote and sell their product or service using at least two promotional methods and sale channels to reach a target market.
Joining the YES students was Tamara Leask from Central Southland College, selling handmade jewellery.
She found success at the market with her earrings engraved with Māori designs.
YES regional co-ordinator Jessica Black said bad weather did not discourage the students or customers.
She emphasised how grateful they were that students were able to sell their products at the market.
"The continued support and encouragement from fellow stallholders, market goers, and parent and teacher supporters means so much to our young entrepreneurs." — Allied Media
