Well done to the group of seven Lower Sixth students who took part in the final of The Peter Jones Tycoon competition. The group worked extremely hard setting up their business plan, trading and learning more about what it takes to run a good business. Timofey, who was head of marketing for the group, reported on what the day entailed:
“Taking part in the Peter Jones Foundation Business Tycoon Final was an unforgettable experience for the whole SimplyWrapped team, and the day of the final is one we will all remember. We set off at 11:30, all feeling the nerves build as we travelled. The whole journey was spent going over our pitches again and again, trying to perfect every line and anticipate every question the judges might ask. Even though we had practiced countless times before, this felt different – this was the final.
When we arrived at the host school, the nerves really kicked in. Seeing the other teams gathering, all representing their own businesses and schools, made everything feel more real. We were quickly told to head to the hall and start setting up our stall in preparation for the “market” style selling session. Walking into the hall and seeing the other groups already arranging their displays, products and banners created an atmosphere of friendly competition and real professionalism. It was clear that everyone there had worked hard to get to this stage.
We set up the SimplyWrapped stall and were ready to sell. Even though we had sold out of our wrapping paper before the final and didn’t have any physical stock left to offer, we used this as an opportunity rather than a setback. As the judges walked around and spoke to us, we focused on communicating what makes SimplyWrapped stand out: the high quality of our product, its sustainability, and its fair pricing. Despite not having any stock to sell on the day, we received a lot of positive reactions from the judges and visitors, who were impressed by both the idea and the way we presented it.
This “market” session was particularly valuable for us as a team. It helped us to develop our in-person selling skills and taught us how to perform under pressure, especially when talking to undercover judges who blended in with the crowd. Everyone in the team enjoyed the chance to speak about the business in a more informal, conversational way, and it gave us confidence in our ability to communicate SimplyWrapped’s values clearly and convincingly. Overall, it was a really positive experience that brought out the best in us.
After the stall session, we moved on to the presenting hall for the more formal part of the competition. There were seven teams in total in our regional final, facing a panel of four professional judges, so the pressure was definitely on. We all sat waiting for our turn to present, and although the nerves were still there, we were relieved to find out we were second to go, as we all just wanted to get it done. Once we were on stage, the preparation paid off: our presentation went very smoothly, and we received encouraging feedback such as, “Strong group presentation – it felt slick and well-rehearsed without any dependency on notes,” and, “Strong communicators with a good understanding of their business.”
After the main pitch, we answered questions from the judges. By this point, a lot of the nerves that had built up over the day had disappeared, because we knew our presentation had gone well and the hardest part was behind us. We were able to respond confidently and clearly, showing that we understood not just our product, but also the wider business side of SimplyWrapped.
Overall, the Peter Jones Foundation Business Tycoon Final was a great experience for every member of the SimplyWrapped team. It taught us valuable lessons in areas such as selling in person, presenting under pressure, and communicating at a professional level. Most importantly, the whole journey – from the start of the project to reaching the final – showed us the power of teamwork. By supporting each other and overcoming challenges together, we earned the privilege of representing our school and our business at the final, and that is something we are all extremely proud of.”
Well done to the team excellent results, that they should all be very proud of!
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