City College Trade Stands promoted and manned by the Opening Doors Students May 3013

I recently enrolled on the Opening doors Business and Administration program at City College Brighton, to gain and develop relevant, transferable skills that I can use in my professional career. As part of the course we took part in a social enterprise project, were we had the exciting task of working as a team to Brand, Market and Sell products made by the wonderful students at The Pallet Project. The project helps 16 – 19 year olds gain technical skills in product design and manufacturing as they recycle old pallets into new pieces of furniture from beds and chairs to window boxes and coat racks.

 

We worked to a brief taking into consideration the people and the purpose behind the project. Our first task was to create a Brand name and Logo. Inspiration was taken from the look and feel of the existing Pallet Project website (<www.theccbpalletproject.webs.com), ensuring the branding showed continuity across all marketing channels.

 

 Having finalised the design, we set about producing the nessacassry marketing collateral. Posters were put up around the College and to create a real buzz we used the Colleges social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and the Intranet to make students and faculty members aware of the sale event we were putting on..

 

On the day of the sale, displaying the products in an eye catching way was top of our agenda. It was a unanimous decision to ensure the products were dressed to impress. We were working with a small budget, so some students on the course brought in items from home such as books and cushions, others brought flowers for maximum visual impact. As they say its all in the details!

 

For two afternoons the class was separated into small teams to man the stall and sell, sell, sell! Our objective, along with making money of course, was to inform and promote what The Pallet Project is all about and help explain exactly where the customers money is spent. Part of the profits go to the charity Trades 4 Aid which helps people in Gambia and part helps to fund students to go out to Gambia to use there skills in a positive way. In the past funds raised for the project have helped construct a library, provide improved sanitisation and re-painted a school.

 

 

Overall the project was a great success, allowing us students on the Business and Administration program to develop invaluable life skills whilst supporting two great causes The Pallet Project and Trades 4 Aid!

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, we took our wonderful range of pallet products on the road for the first time, making an appearance at the car boot sale on Brighton Marina. Even though we possibly had the worst pitch available, tucked away in the far corner away from the hustle and bustle of the excited car booters, we managed to have a very successful day. A number of the items were sold and the comments and feedback we received about the quality of products themselves, and the project as a whole, were very positive and gave the students a lot of confidence to keep the project going and to build even more products.

Due to the success of the day, we hope to be attending more events and putting our products on show as much as possible over the coming months. All dates and venues will be posted on the blog as soon as  we find suitable places to showcase the hard work and skill of the students.

Our next confirmed event is Brighton’s ‘People’s Day’ on the 15^th June at City College Brighton’s Pelham site.

Aish

At City College we have made a range of modern and stylish furniture. Personally I have created a wooden shelf and some colourful coat hangers. We are going to sell these products to raise money to go to Africa!! We as a class have spent the last 4 weeks creating wonderful furniture for people to buy. We have also spent alot of time and effort in creating furniture.

In this photo I am making my shelf. At that exact time I am hammering nails to create a stylish border to go round the top of my shelf to make it more appealing to the eye. We do lots of things in construction to decorate our products, like painting, tiling, carving shapes in wood and giving things a last touch to make them just that just that little bit more interesting.

 

Here are some of new additions to our range of pallet furniture. 

 This sun lounger is not only stylish and original, but is strong and functional, with an integrated magazine rack at the back.  Well done to Jack and Jake.

Here are samples from our recent range of pet beds.  Your cat or small dog will love to snuggle up in this.  Or the boxes could easily be used as plant holders or veg boxes. 

Vice Principal Rebecca Conroy purchases a small coffee table from Macaulay.  Thanks for your support Rebecca.

Jack and Jake sold this stunning table to a customer who saw our website and blog.  She came to view our wares and immediately decided on this table.  She was extremely impressed by the range and the quality of the furniture she saw.  Thank you.

We have commissions and sales coming thick and fast!  Customers are now seeing our website and blog and coming to view our products.  Jack and Jake have sold this beautiful table.  The buyers were extremely impressed by all of the pieces on offer and may come back for more.

Antony and Callum have been commissioned to make a day bed, Ricky to make a TV and stereo stand and Macaulay a coffee table.  The workshop is buzzing!

Leo has sold this bespoke table!

Also, Ricky has a commission to make a small coffee table and is well on the way to completing it. 

Here are some other examples of our eclectic range, the bottle rack, coat rack and shelves.  

More amazing furniture and our first sold piece

Our first finished table, sold yesterday and now in it's new home.  Many tables, bottle racks and shelves are nearing completion.