Minutes from Friday 16th September

Attendance - full

Agenda

1. What schools should we target in Edinburgh?

2. The company name

3. Should we cut out the middle man- running an ebay-like website

4. Paying methods- how easy is it to set up paypal websites

5. Marketing- how do we advertise this?

6. Could we get a sponsor for the website?

7. How easy will it be able to set up/run

8. Who will take over in running the website?

9. Fundraising – how do we make a profit? What and where will we sell?

1. Schools to target- Find out which schools have certain items for uniform and schools in which have a thrift shop.

2. Company name- The ‘switch’ name could get confusing with the credit card company. But it could be the start of the name such as ‘Switch-thrift’ or ‘Switch-decorations’. However a simple name thrift-online tells parents and users exactly what the business is about.

3. The idea of an ebay-like website for school means that we don’t have to store lots of products as the seller will post it straight to the buyer. To make the money we could take a percentage of what the item is sold for or take commission from the schools thrift shops. But who will pay the postage charge?

4. Paying methods- will it be easier if we had a bank account to transfer our makings into?

5. Advertising – We could try and get advertising on school websites (will we have to pay?). Targeting important events at school- such as parent’s evenings so that parents are aware. Simple posters. We can also advertise at the Christmas young Enterprise fair. Could we get advertisement in main stores such as ‘Clan House’ and ‘Aiken and Niven’?

7. How can we set up the website? What products this we sell- just uniforms? Or books as well (such as past papers- as exams are coming up and there will be a surge on sales). Blackwell’s only buys second hand books once a year- potential gap in the market. How do we present the item on the website? Will the user take photos of their product and upload it themselves? With books they might not need photographs-listing could be used.

8. New concept- Thrift shops and parents can put their stock on the website- this means that the thrift shops can take over in running the website. Could younger years take over?

9. A profit will be hard to gain with the website as we have missed the best time to sell- as parents and students get their uniform at the start of the summer term. However fundraising such as Cake and Candy’s, face painting at events, the sixth year tea towels can raise quite a lot of money. Do we sell Aileen’s flower decorations- could be made into an advent calendar for Christmas? (Better market) Tea towels could also be created for sports teams or younger years? We need to find out what products the younger years at school would want to buy.

Profit isn’t the main focus as an original idea like this could help us to win, also we gain good business skills …

Mr. Piper will confirm whether we can fundraise separate from our main service.

Next meeting with him is on the 30^th at 1.15 in the Robert Cunningham room as usual.

Action Points

Olivia and Greta – Meeting with Mrs. Moule, sorting out a Cake and Cake

Hamish and Megan- Draw up a Questionnaire (for parents and form groups)

Alex and Abi- Get dates on important dates in the school calendar

Hannah/Emily- Website production, how do we do this?

Ruth and Aileen- The website, Can we buy shops online? How?

All-Company name

Vikram- Can we get a bank account for the company?