Young Cork entrepreneurs bring a little colour to Christmas shopping at Merchant’s Quay

Young Cork entrepreneurs bring a little colour to Christmas shopping on Merchant’s Quay

 

Cork Christmas shoppers were offered some new and innovative products on the season’s main shopping day when Cork city transition year students showcased their mini-companies at Merchant’s Quay on December 8.
 
11 mini-companies in total competed at the Local Enterprise Office Cork city Christmas Trade Fair, after which three winners were chosen to go through to a Regional Final taking place in Spring 2016. Awards were judged and presented in a number of categories by management consultant, Fiona Donnelly and John Russell, accountant from Russell & Co. 
 
  • Best Display Stand: ‘Reindeer Park’ - Deerpark CBS
  • Best Sales Technique: ‘Be Organised’ - Scoil Mhuire
  • Best Innovation: ‘P.E.N.’ - Scoil Mhuire
  • Best Team Spirit: ‘Survival Kit’ - Scoil Mhuire
  • Best Interview: ‘Checklist’ - Colaiste An Spioraid Naoimh
 
The three overall winners of the Christmas Trade Fair were:
 
  • ‘Checklist’ - Colaiste An Spioraid Naoimh
  • P.E.N.’ - Scoil Mhuire
  • ‘Wardrobe Wizards’ - St Alyosius School
 
The three city schools competing in the Regional Final will have the chance to be picked to represent cork in a National Final, taking place at Croke Park in April 2016. Commenting on the Christmas Trade Fair, Yvonne O’Neill, Co-ordinator Cork Schools Enterprise Programme, said: "We were delighted with the standard of business ideas seen at the trade fair here today.  The ideas ranged from the technological to craft and education and were very well presented by our students. There was a great atmosphere in merchants Quay for the event and a real spirit of entrepreneurship in the air".