Kent Round One

In 1st Place

Sinan Assaf, University of Kent £370.24
Sinan created a business called ‘Cheaper Computer Care’ and offered his services as a computing technician. Sinan had businesscards printed for free in exchange for distributing the printing company’sleaflets. He advertised his services on his website and negotiated advertising outside companies on his website inexchange for a percentage of any sales generated through the website. He used his £10 to travel to London to work for one ofhis new clients. The idea was so successful that Sinan ended up employing three of his friends to help with the work he generated. As well as his winning certificate, Sinan also received the glass trophy sponsored by C4B (Canterbury 4 Business), supporting enterprising students in Canterbury.

In 2nd Place
Marrily Runoona, University of Kent £170.10
Marrily bought and sold jewellery, blouses and braids. She constantly reinvested herprofits over the two weeks to make her fantastic total of £170.

In 3rd Place
Ivan Seka and Ireti Akinroyeje, University of Kent £160.
Ivan and Ireti arranged a raffle with the 1st prize being £50 token for a 3 course meal at a local restaurant, which they negotiated with the restaurant to offer to them for £25. Selling raffle tickets over the next two weeks they made a total profit of £160 from the £10 start up cost.

In 4^th Place
Iulia Stoichita and Gabriela Dumitrache, Canterbury Christ Church University £101.75.
They made a total profit of £203.50 from £20 start up costs which breaks down to£101.75 per £10 stake. Iulia and Gabriela created a business called ‘Bubble Fluff’ and made their own dressrings and earrings. They created a website to promote their jewellery, they also approached various stores in Canterbury but were unable to secure a contract. They set up a stall in Canterbury Christ Church’s Student Union and also sold their products through stalls already established on Canterbury Market.

Some really great ideas and hard work went into the Challenge and some additional certificates were also awarded based on other criteria other than the amount of profit raised.

Most Donated to Charity
Ryan Meadows & Katie Marshall – CCCU

Ryanand Katie set up a bonus ball game in which people bought a number between 1& 49 for £1 each, and£82 in prizes was won by participants, and £103 profit was made.They donated this to the Deal Bandstand appeal which was set up after the bombing ofthe Royal Marines barracks in Deal on September 22nd 1989 when 11marines died. The bandstand is a memorial and needs maintenance funds.

Most Artistic idea
Veronika Stoyanova – CCCU
Veronika sold one portrait on e-bay and received a commission for the other portrait making a profit of £51. Veronika has also secured 2 more commissions resulting from this competition.

Most Innovative idea
Michael Trimmer and Stephen Yeldham University of Kent
Michael and Stephen collected poetry with a macabre theme from authors in the public domain and created a booklet entitled ‘Voices of ghosts’. These were displayed on a stand created from left over cardboard and sold in Blackwells.

Most Environmentally Friendly idea
Jennifer Woodward and Kate Hayden – CCCU
Jennifer and Kate came up with the idea of a girly clothes swap called ‘Rags to Riches’. People brought a bag of clothes which they exchanged for an empty bag and they could then fill that bag with the clothes other customers had brought and exchanged. Customers paid a £2 entrance fee.

Other great ideas and ventures included

• taking photos of people outside their houses and selling these as mementoes,
• renting spots and selling at bootfairs,
• buying and selling international calling cards
• organising a party
• running raffles
• selling roses for Valentines day
• photographing rabbits and entering a prize draw
• washing cars,
• buying and selling Afro-Caribbean hair products
• buying and selling CDs
• buying and selling chocolate bars
• buying and selling French food

Over 40 students from both universities took part, and thirty £10s were loaned out to the students either as individuals or in teams. In total £1959.35 profit was made, over a 650% return.

Over 60 people attended the ‘Champagne and Pizza’ awards at the Orange Street Music Club in Canterbury. As well as the prizes, all students received a certificate to show that they had all taken the opportunity to make things happen, and show their enterprising skills.

Previous Winners

Making and selling and delivering South Asian food (food prep – not allowed this year) and continually reinvesting profits over the two weeks of the challenge - £527.50

Spending £9.95 registering on Property Tycoon internet site – passing on leads - £334 profit

Spending just £3 to visit a local business contact and persuading them to sponsor a prize of an iPod touch for a Pro Evolution Soccer Tournament - £373 profit

Other entrants sold snack packs to late night students studying in the library, sold beer at a party, invested on a financial website, gambled on blackjack (sorry – not allowed this year) – and plenty of other ideas.