Coffee grounds are an ingredient in the ultimate Auckland bathroom accessory. Rowena Orejana reports.
Eight apprehensive, yet excited, students huddle in the lounge of Macleans College reception. On the table are packets of soap made from recycled coffee grounds.
"We didn't know how to make soap," confesses Bill Qiu, spokesman for the school's Plus Enterprises group. "We had many, many trials and errors."
Eventually, they came up with the marbled brown and white handmade soap they will sell in Manukau Square for the Counties Manukau Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme Trade Fair.
Plus Enterprises is one of 25 student companies setting up stalls showcasing the imaginative and creative products young minds have devised.
"Trade Fair offers participants in the Young Enterprise Scheme a valuable chance to market and sell their products to the public," says Yvette Hellyer, south business development manager of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development. Ateed is organising the Trade Fair.
Other products at the fair include pet food, music CDs, emergency packs as well as raincoats packed into rugby balls.
In the course of producing the soap, the students learned valuable insights about business.
"The first soap was a fail," recalls Teresa Wong, Plus member.
"That really opened our eyes. We realised we really had to research and learn how to make our product."
Despite several more failures and countless arguments, the group stuck to its idea and worked around its differences.
They decided it should be an all natural soap made from recycled coffee grounds sourced from a local coffee shop that sells only Fair Trade coffee. It is a soap imbued with their values.
"We wanted it to be all natural, environment-friendly," explains Teresa. "We didn't put in any artificial fragrance. It is neutral. "
"Coffee is an odour remover. It gets rid of strong smell," adds Mr Qiu. "But no, you won't smell like coffee when you use it."
The group has already sold products at the Pakuranga night market and the Taiwan Culture Day. "Most of the customers were perplexed," says Phoebe Yao, another member of the group.
"They thought we were selling brownies or cakes."
The group has already sold about 30 pieces and has a hundred more to sell. Part of the profits will go the Red Cross Christchurch Appeal 2011.
Ms Hellyer says the Trade Fair will complement the year-long, hands-on experience of the participants by providing a public sales opportunity.
"For the public it is a chance to witness the next generation of business entrepreneurs in action," she adds, "and we know they will impressed by what is on offer."
Yes we can
The Young Enterprise Scheme requires students to establish and run a business within their school curriculum. They form a company and a business plan, and produce goods or services to sell.
The students learn all aspects of running a business including budgeting, making decisions, managing risk, market research, marketing, selling and annual financial reporting.
The Trade Fair is at Manukau Square, Westfield Manukau Shopping Centre, 9am-4pm on Sunday, September 4.