The trade fair is one of the highlights of the scheme and is the first chance for many students to test their ideas and sale techniques on the public.
Shoppers voted for their favourite company while judges rated each stall for presentation, promotional materials, money handling and how students engaged with the public.
This year's winner was Tahlia Rogers-Brown, a Year 13 student at Whangarei Girls' High, who is already in business with an online fashion store called Little Habits Boutique.
Tahlia has been importing and selling women's clothing since last year. Most of her marketing is by social media, especially Instagram. She had amassed 17,000 followers before her account was hacked and she had to start again. It was all part of the learning process, she said.
The 17-year-old plans to study retail and business management at Massey University's Albany campus next year.
Second place went to another sole trader, Year 12 student Ellie Leaf from Kerikeri High School.
The 16-year-old imports sunglasses and makes chokers from lace, leather and charms, selling them under her label The Happy Girl.
She wants to study business and fashion design at Massey University in Wellington.
Third place went to Charity Cases, a Whangarei Girls' High company run by Year 12 students Elle Hacker and Gillian Kent-Smith. The 17-year-olds produce iPhone cases printed with Red Cross, White Ribbon and CanTeen logos. They will be available for iPhone 4, 5, and 6 from New World Regent early next month for $15, with 80 per cent of the profits going to the three charities.
Elle said they carried out market research before choosing the charities. They wanted New Zealand-based causes people were passionate about.
Gillian said the hardest part was getting permission to use the charities' logos.
The customer choice award went to Fudj, a Kerikeri High School Year 12 company making a variety of fudges from mostly local ingredients.
Some companies missed out on prizes but won in other, more lucrative ways. Nga Puawai, a Northland College Year 13 company specialising in corsages and flax flowers, landed an order for 100 flax flower arrangements for two conferences.
A Ruawai College company called Lady Prints won a substantial order from the Northern Rural Fire Authority for its 2015 calendars, which aim to raise the profile of women in the Fire Service and encourage more to volunteer. The calendar is the brainchild of Year 11 students Georgia Beattie and Bailey O'Sullivan.
The 15-year-olds will use photos taken by female firefighters from the Dargaville and Ruawai brigades.
The calendars will be printed in Kaitaia and be available for $15 from Ruawai and Dargaville businesses.
"We wanted to raise awareness of what women actually do in the Fire Service, and what they are capable of," Georgia said.
Past trade fairs have been held at Turner Centre in Kerikeri and Whangarei's Canopy Bridge. The Old Packhouse Market was chosen this year for its heavy foot traffic, guaranteeing the students plenty of customers.
