Bagging some experience with business enterprise
Print Edition
“Self-designed recyclable bags” — that was what we advertised and sold. As part of the YCIS IGCSE Enterprise syllabus, students get the opportunity to create and run a business, and to complete coursework based on the business’ operations. For a month, I was completely absorbed in the constant cycle of producing and selling these bags, and during that time, two other friends and I transformed my living room into a temporary production line that tumbled out, bag after bag.
It all started when one of us walked in with a book bag. We were in the process of brainstorming potential ideas and products for our business, and suddenly, recyclable bags became a top candidate on our list. After endless discussion with each other and our teachers, and after completing truckloads of Word documents outlining our idea, we were finally given the green light.
Our bags were available in four sizes with an assortment of color and pattern combinations. We also accepted personalized orders from customers, who could customize their bag’s design. We sold our products on multiple occasions, including the YCIS Parent’s Organizations’ “Christmas Bazaar” and the school’s “Enterprise Week.”
When the last transaction was made, I could not help but let out a sigh of relief.. It had always seemed so easy to run a business. It’s not until you get your own first-hand experience that you learn otherwise. Working with two other individuals, each with their own individual opinions, was also a challenge. This was the greatest test of our maturity; we had to learn to communicate with each other, and I discovered that this involved more listening than speaking. It meant that we focused on the clear articulation of our ideas, and also that we needed to compromise sometimes.
Indeed, this was enlightening. I mastered the art of selling and I can now package bags in my sleep. It gave us a taste of enterprising, of undertaking a creative project to develop a business. But I have learnt that this term encompasses beyond that dictionary definition. In fact, enterprise is about the spirit of cooperation, a characteristic at the base of human existence — it is striving together to realize a dream.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
