Pop-up business ideas on show

THREE THIRTY THREE: Sisters Karla and Nicole Hogan with one of their gift boxes. The pair are taking part in PopUp Business School and will be exhibiting their business, Three Thirty Three, at the school’s trade show on Tuesday. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Gisborne will be able to see PopUp Business School in action at a trade show next week.

The school is well into the first week of the two-week crash course in business. Those attending will have a chance to show the public what they have learned and what products they have developed at a trade show on Tuesday from 1pm to 2.30pm at Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club.

PopUp chief executive Tony Newport-Henderson says the prospect of new businesses here is exciting.

“You will be amazed at the raft of ideas coming to life. There will be existing and new businesses showcasing their talent.”

Trade shows at previous schools have resulted in sell-out stalls and corporate deals.

Two hoping to replicate these results are sisters Nicole and Karla Hogan.

The pair started a gift box business with another sister in Wellington. Three Thirty Three aims to take the stress out of major occasions by creating personalised gift boxes, delivered free within city limits.

Karla says PopUp is ticking all the business boxes.

“Nicole and I are both stay-at-home mums. We wanted to do something together that allowed us to work around our children.

“We ran a trial over Valentine’s Day with Trade Aid chocolate, homemade body scrubs, bath salts and soy candles, plus crystals for love like rose quartz,” says Karla.

“As an example, we also personalised one of the packs with a bracelet that had the woman’s son’s name on it.”

Feedback showed two relationships resulted out of the Valentine’s Day packs — a huge confidence boost for the Hogan sisters.

“After the trial we found we plateaued and did not know how to move forward business-wise,” says Nicole.

“That is why PopUp has been so awesome. The content is relevant and it is helping us lay the foundation for a successful business.”

Other products on display at the tradeshow include glamping (glamour-camping), mobile engineering, yoga services, spray tattoo artistry, life coaching, real estate, videography and digital gaming.

Just under 80 registrations were received for the Gisborne school.

A mix of full-time employed, 21 percent, part-time employed, 15 percent, self-employed, 40 percent, students, eight percent and unemployed, 17 percent, will attend. Maori representation is strong, at 52 percent.

The statistics are promising, says Activate Tairawhiti Business Growth Advisor Tui Babbington.

“That 50 percent Maori figure reflects our wider community make-up. This is important because it tells us we are catering to the whole community.

“As the region’s economic development agency, these figures are fantastic because it shows this course is both strengthening existing businesses and building new businesses, and opportunities for those who are part-time or unemployed.

Activate Tairawhiti is the chief sponsor of PopUp Business School which, along with co-sponsors Te Puni Kokiri, Xero and the Ministry of Social Development, ensured the school was free to attend.

General manager economic development Steve Breen says there will be something for everyone at the show.

“This is a brilliant opportunity to see what budding businesses are popping up in our region, I would wholeheartedly encourage the public and industry to attend.”