The Enterprise Tycoons of 24-25
With last years Tycoon group ‘Christmas Crusaders’ winning their category at an awards ceremony in London, this year’s teams had to live up to a very successful legacy. I always wonder what new ideas the young entrepreneurs might come up with but never fail to be impressed.
Wreath Emporium
Finally, a group has tapped into the Christmas wreath market – and producing high-quality ones too. Good problem-solving skills shown by this group as they tested and adapted their production. A well organised group with good digital marketing and a natural sales technique, they have recorded some very impressive sales too. Add into this a wreath making class this group, another first occasion for a tycoon group. They are supporting Alder Hey and the Christie Foundation and made just under £2000 profit.
Luxury Lanterns
I like how this group organised their production runs and they have produced well-crafted and charming Christmas-themed lanterns. This was also a very well organised group with excellent teamwork but also defined roles. This team displayed great teamwork and problem-solving as well as exceptional financial skills and acting upon consumer feedback. They made a profit of £1250 pounds donated to Macmillan Cancer support.
Just Good Candles
Candles always sell well, and this group refined their production and sales techniques nicely as well as trying different scents and colours. They also tried a range of packaging to supply Ladies Luncheon club with an order of Christmas gifts. Just Good Candles supported Just Good Friends and made a profit of over £300.
Trinket Box
Mixing artistic ability with digital knowledge how this group has impressed. They stepped out of their comfort zone with an appearance at the Preston Trades fair, where sales techniques and tenacity were tested in the bitter cold! Made of sea glass they offered a range of fantastic necklaces and earrings alongside an upcycling of old broken jewellery. A very impressive website headed their digital marketing campaign. This group is currently second in the national competition with a profit of just under £2000 which will be donated to the Peter Jones Foundation and the IDAS charity for victims of domestic abuse in the north of England.
As ever I am indebted to Ladies Luncheon Club for their continued support and feedback and for the wider community of AKS; members of staff often act as focus groups and face sales pitches in the school corridors! I hope all the students have learned something new from their experience in this unique and practical academic enrichment. Moreover, with £5,500 going to charity, many of them local, this takes the sum raised by AKS Tycoons to over £40,000 in nine years, a figure I am immensely proud of.
Graeme McIntyre