An Interview with Young Enterprise Team : StarSeekers

Tell us about your product!

“Our product consists of reward badges and magnets to help children to become more environmentally friendly and aware. We sell bags of 7 badges or magnets which feature different characters, for example Rex the Recycling Bin (recycling paper) and Fiona the Food Waste (composting and/ or leaving no food on your plate). Inside our bags we include a story which acts as an interest and motivator for the children, who have an intention of looking after the environment.

Star Seekers’ aims are to encourage young children to be more environmentally friendly by carrying out fun and simple jobs around the house. Our tasks such as turning the lights off and reducing food waste are small but effective and will help the younger generations make a difference to our world as they grow up.

In the future we are looking to develop a mixed bag which will include two or more of our characters. After speaking to an official in Milton Keynes Trade Fair, we have decided we can improve on the sustainability factor of our products, especially looking at new materials such as using recycled paper which would have less of an impact on the environment. 

How did you come up with the product?

“We came up with the product by holding multiple meetings to collaborate our ideas to build and develop them. We decided as a team that we wanted the principle of our company to be based around the environment as we understand this is a very permanent issue in our world. We decided our product should be educational so we made our target market children as this can help them to grow up with the knowledge of how and why we need to care for our planet. We originally had the idea to make a reward chart out of recycled oven trays but we decided to develop that idea to differentiate ourselves from competitors by making a product which is more interactive that they can then show their friends at school.”

What challenges and successes have you had so far?

“Our successes have been a major motivating factor for our team- our first award being £70 prize in a meet the Dragons competition, we were presented with a professionalism award for our product pitch. Shortly before half-term we were announced as runner up out of 21 teams attending Milton Keynes Trade Fair.

At times it has been challenging for our team. A particular challenge for us was taking the initial idea and developing the products in time for our first selling event - Pipers Christmas Fair. We then faced another challenge when we sold out and had to make products for the next selling event in Marlow.”

What have you learned?

“Especially during the development process of our product, we have gained skills that can be transferred into future jobs and universities. For example, we have learnt more about dedication, organisation, teamwork, communication and confidence. These characteristics have specifically helped us through the selling events -  during which we needed to be outgoing and positive.

After a slow start on the product development process, we have gradually increased our presence on social media, our team are proud to have had a regular flow of posts and stories which help to engage and inform our committed followers.”

Where can we see StarSeekers next?

“So far we have sold at several events including Pipers Christmas fair, Marlow Late Night Shopping and Milton Keynes Trade Fair.  Our sales team are currently researching primary schools in the local area which we can sell at to entice more of our target market to buy from Star Seekers. We have been selling our products at the end of Prep day here at Pipers too and our fellow young students seem to love them”.

Our products can be bought online here: www.starsseekers.net