Student business wins award

It might have begun as a rough idea, but their detailed vision and business plan has seen St Mary's Diocesan School year 12 business studies students win first place in a regional competition.

ROUGH, the organically made all-natural face scrub was created as part of the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme, powered by Shell in Taranaki.

The Graphix Explosion Business Card competition saw 14 companies from high schools throughout the region design business cards with St Mary's taking the top spot.

The St Mary's students say they created the face scrub for their target market of teenagers and young adults. Company CEO and finance director Edie Thomas (16) says the group wanted to create a beauty/skincare product with all natural ingredients as that is something that would appeal to them.

In designing their business card the students wanted to use earthy dark tones to highlight the all-natural product says marketing manager Jesseka Fairclough (16).

"As coffee is a main ingredient in our product we also wanted coffee beans to feature on the business card which we contrasted with white text."

The business card competition was judged by the team at Graphix Explosion who said, "the team has really thought about their product and audience and have made very appropriate colour and imagery choices".

The judges also praised the teams use of social media logos adding the group has an understanding of their target market.

The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme allows students to experience all areas of business such as creating businesses plans and pitching their ideas in a Lions Den style situation says communication manager Abbie Hinton (16).

As winners of the Graphix Explosion Business Card competition, the students were given 500 of their business cards to use to promote their business.

Production manager Tristyn Trollope (16) says with the business cards completed the team are now working hard to finalise the packaging for their product so that it will be ready for sale at the Young Enterprise Scheme Trade Fair in Centre City, New Plymouth on Sunday, August 9.

St Mary's Diocesan School business studies teacher, Fleur Karasawa says the students have been very motivated in completing each of the events.

"They work very well as a team and have a clear vision for what they want their product and business to be."

For more information about ROUGH check out their Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Rough-Scrub/1593965434203924?fref=ts