275 Times December 2017 - January 2018

Clever 7’s sustainable business journey
When Māngere
College student
Samir Ali signed
up to take Business
Studies in Year 13,
he got more than
he bargained for.
By Justine Skilling
Talking Rubbish,
ME Family Services
“Our teacher told us we
were going to make and
sell our own product
and I thought, oh my
gosh – what have I got
myself into!” says Samir.
Every year the College
takes part in the Lion
Foundation Young Enterprise
Scheme (YES), a
hands-on programme
where students set up
and run a real business.
Samir was quickly given
the role of Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) by his team
mates, and the group set
to work creating Clever 7.
Sustainable vision
With input from mentors
Lucy Wymer (YES) and
Peter Sykes (ME Family
Services), the group decided
to use recycled materials
in their product, because
of the “huge benefit to the
environment.”
They hit upon the idea
of reusing waste tyres
and contacted local
company Moon Motors
who were “delighted to
give the tyres away.”
Combining their love of
animals with their desire
to save the environment,
Clever 7 decided to create
Young entrepreneurs: Clever 7’s Te Aroha Houston (left) and Elizajane
Mafileo with samples of their prize-winning pet beds.
a pet bed out of the
tyres, using old clothes as
stuffing for the cushions.
After raising $400 in startup
funding by selling hot
food at school, they started
production at Samir’s place,
A wobbly start
“Our prototype was a fail,”
admits Samir. “We tried to
paint the tyres, but they
looked horrible. The paint
didn’t stick to the tyres
properly and would’ve
come off in the rain.
“When we started
working on our real product,
we decided to use
spray paint instead.”
Clever 7 worked hard
during the construction
phase, fitting this around
their other assessments
and family commitments.
“I wanted everyone to do
what they could,” says
Samir. “I didn’t want anyone
to feel left out because it’s
all about the experience.
It was actually very fun.”
The group put their
technical skills to the test
– washing, cutting and
painting the tyres, as well
as sewing and stuffing the
cushions to go inside.
Compliments & sales
With nine pet beds to
sell, the group created
some buzz about their
product on social media
before heading to the
Papatoetoe Night Market
to ply their wares.
“At first we were a bit shy,
but once people came up
and were complimenting
us on our product we
got more confident,”
says Samir. “People were
really amazed at what
we’d done. They’d never
seen tyres being made
into pet beds before.”
The group managed to
sell six beds at the market,
and the remaining three
through the school, netting
themselves a small profit.
But the hard work wasn’t
over. As part of YES, the
group had 30 seconds
to present their product
to a panel of judges in
Dragon’s Den style. “It was
really scary,” says Samir.
Award winners
In recognition of their
product’s outstanding
contribution to the
environment, Clever 7
took out the Excellence
in Sustainability Award
at the YES Auckland
South Regional Awards.
Their Business Studies
teacher Savitri Nadan is
“very proud of the group’s
achievements.” She has
seen their confidence
grow and watched
them develop skills in
team work, budgeting,
marketing, communication
and leadership.
A whole new world
For Mentor Peter Sykes,
the benefit of the YES
programme is the in-depth
learning students do about
themselves in complex
systems – balancing family
and school life. “For many,
a whole new world of small
business is opened up – a
cross cultural experience
in itself,” he says.
While none of the Clever
7 group will be rushing
out to start their own
businesses just yet, they’ve
valued the experience
and enjoyed having a
taste of what’s involved.
As Samir says, “If you
have a passionate heart
and a skilful mind, you
can do anything you
want in business”.
ENROL
NOW
for 2018
free PARENTING PROGRAMMES
Hoki ki te Rito
O – ranga wha _ nau
Mellow Mums & Dads
Mellow Bumps
Antenatal sessions
Incredible
Years
For Parents
Wh – anau
4Wh – anau
Whakat – okia
te Rongomau
Day & evening programmes begin in February 2018
Ma _ ngere East Community Centre, 372 Massey Rd, Ma _ ngere East
ph. 09 263 0798 | e. admin@ohomairangi.co.nz | www.ohomairangi.co.nz
7