The B Treeology delivers versatile Body Butter Balm
Article content
To help prepare for Saturday's London District Junior Achievement Dragon's Lair event, Tillsonburg's 2103-14 Junior Achievement company held its own local 'Dragon's Den.'
Six local entrepreneurs and business gurus were invited to a weekly meeting of The B Treeology to listen to a five-minute presentation from the Junior Achievement company's executive, comment and critique it, and watch on-site production in the Gilvesy Centre meeting room on Potters Road.
The B-Treeology's base product is Body Butter Balm, a shea butter body, skin and hair product with a variety of uses including skin moisturizer and lip gloss. To create their finished Body Butter Balm product, the local Grade 9-12 students mix/whip the shea butter, taking it from bulk quantities to individual-size containers, add fragrance, package it, then retail it.
Over the course of the 21-week Junior Achievement program, the students learn business skills, make friends and meet new people.
"We bond a lot while we're doing production," said Megan Spencer, president of The B Treeology, who was also president's of last year's local Junior Achievement company.
"Last year we generated just shy of $5,000 in revenue," said Spencer, who learned from her first year in the program. "What we were able to do this year was focus on issues that we had last year, and solve them before they even happened this year."
One of their goals was to start production early.
"Last year we were one of the first to start production, which was a huge advantage because we were able to get sales before Christmas. We wanted to do the same this year."
They started in-store sales in the final weeks of the program last year.
"This year we started that a lot sooner, so we were able to generate even more sales," said Spencer, noting they also want to do door-to-door sales.
"Last year we had issues with personal goals – people were feeling pressured to sell them. This year we set up a new sales program... setting weekly goals."
The result, she said, was more attainable goals and the ability to cross-reference sales with their production team.
* * *
Nineteen students make up Tillsonburg's 2013-14 Junior Achievement company, The B Treeology, which is manufacturing, marketing and retailing its shea butter 'Body Butter Balm' product. There are various ways to contact The B Treeology:
Instagram and Twitter: @thebtreeology
Facebook: Thebtreeology (one word) https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Thebtreeology/207053449478769
Email: spencermegan@live.ca
Phone: 519-550-4383
Website: http://theb-treeology.webs.com
* * *
The B Treeology achieved more than $2,500 in sales before Christmas, and nearly reached $5,000 by the end of the Christmas break, which leads the London district with teams from London, Strathroy, and St. Thomas. Tillsonburg has Oxford County's only Junior Achievement program.
"I'm amazed by it," said Spencer, pleased by their sales. "I can see how much work everyone puts into it, which is great. It's a 21-week program and we're in Week 11 right now."
The company set an April target of $10,000, and if possible, they'd like to see each member help generate $500, which would make them eligible for a London District award. Ten per cent of their total profit will be donated to a local charity.
"Last year we had three people. This year, if we could get everyone an award, that would be amazing. For some, they will team up with other people going door-to-door. Some will be in charge of getting inventory to stores. The IT guys get credit for the on-line sales."
Key elements to their success, she said, are teamwork and problem solving.
"It's the way we're able to work together, which is great. We understand sometimes things don't go smoothly and we're able to develop our teamwork skills. We deal with any issues that come up during the 21-week session – we're able to roll with it."
Product selection has played a large role in their success, but Spencer said it's also individual sales skills and comfort with the product.
"We focus on sales training so they can stand behind the product 100 per cent and be confident in the product. I think how it's delivered makes it worth it."
Tillsonburg's Junior Achievement company meets weekly Monday nights, 6-9 p.m. at the Gilvesy Centre on Potters Road.
"We have a lot of new people this year, which is great. Last year we had 11 and this year we're up to 19."
Company members gain experience in different business sectors including finance, human resource and production, and they have some flexibility to change sectors.
"If someone was an assistant to marketing and decided they don't like marketing at all, we switched them to something we thought they might like. It gives them experience in something they like. As long as you're learning something, I think you're getting something more from it each year. I learned from the mistakes I made, or ways to make it better to be able to do this much stronger this year.
"For me, it's a great way to get a grasp of the business world without the fallbacks that can happen in a real business. It's more of a learning experience, but it's hands-on, not text books in school. You get to do it yourself, and you get to interact with business people in Tillsonburg, you make connections, and come up with new ways to meet people. I think everyone comes out of this with a great grasp of how a business is set up with the key fundamentals."
Junior Achievement benefits are long term, she said.
"No matter where in life you're selling yourself – whether it's a job interview or if you work in retail... I think it's such a great way to get sales experience, to be confident about something."