City College Trade Stands promoted and manned by the Opening Doors Students May 3013

I recently enrolled on the Opening doors Business and Administration program at City College Brighton, to gain and develop relevant, transferable skills that I can use in my professional career. As part of the course we took part in a social enterprise project, were we had the exciting task of working as a team to Brand, Market and Sell products made by the wonderful students at The Pallet Project. The project helps 16 – 19 year olds gain technical skills in product design and manufacturing as they recycle old pallets into new pieces of furniture from beds and chairs to window boxes and coat racks.

 

We worked to a brief taking into consideration the people and the purpose behind the project. Our first task was to create a Brand name and Logo. Inspiration was taken from the look and feel of the existing Pallet Project website (<www.theccbpalletproject.webs.com), ensuring the branding showed continuity across all marketing channels.

 

 Having finalised the design, we set about producing the nessacassry marketing collateral. Posters were put up around the College and to create a real buzz we used the Colleges social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and the Intranet to make students and faculty members aware of the sale event we were putting on..

 

On the day of the sale, displaying the products in an eye catching way was top of our agenda. It was a unanimous decision to ensure the products were dressed to impress. We were working with a small budget, so some students on the course brought in items from home such as books and cushions, others brought flowers for maximum visual impact. As they say its all in the details!

 

For two afternoons the class was separated into small teams to man the stall and sell, sell, sell! Our objective, along with making money of course, was to inform and promote what The Pallet Project is all about and help explain exactly where the customers money is spent. Part of the profits go to the charity Trades 4 Aid which helps people in Gambia and part helps to fund students to go out to Gambia to use there skills in a positive way. In the past funds raised for the project have helped construct a library, provide improved sanitisation and re-painted a school.

 

 

Overall the project was a great success, allowing us students on the Business and Administration program to develop invaluable life skills whilst supporting two great causes The Pallet Project and Trades 4 Aid!