Could You Make a Profit From a Cardboard Box?

In the Business Studies department we are setting our new recruits an induction task over the summer holidays to show us what they can do. This years task is to turn a cardboard box into a profitable product.

Over the last few years we have seen more and more monthly subscription boxes coming to the market; these include popular subscriptions such as Graze boxes, Glossybox and Birchbox. However, it doesn't stop there. When I stumbled across this blog it got me thinking about how we consumers will buy anything that comes in a monthly subscription box, including DIY Craft boxes, gaming boxes, boxes with treats for our furry four legged friends and even period pick me ups (no joke!).

This led me to creating our Business Studies induction task. Over the summer students must come up with their own monthly subscription box idea. Students must design this box, write a short business plan and create a business pitch that they will present to the rest of the class on the first day.

Daunting? Yes.

Challenging? Yes.

Fun? Yes!

We set a similar challenge last year and got some amazing results, a personal highlight being the "Curry in a Hurry" box with recipes and spices for customers to make a different curry every month.

I strongly believe these types of enterprising tasks help students to demonstrate not only their creative and whacky side, but also helps them to build confidence, presentation skills and passion for the subject.

If you give this task a go please send me a Tweet and let me know how it goes, we can compare ideas!