The entrepreneurial business minds of the P7 children at Cumber Claudy Primary School were put to good use, with a business called ‘Optimum Soaps’ getting off the ground this year. Like many small businesses, the current public health crisis put an end to their operations, but their teacher, Mr Carlisle, hopes that the product can be of help to people in the local community.
“We had our business plan in place, designed and made the product, worked on our packaging and advertising, targeted our customers and planned our sales strategy. Anne McKenzie, of ‘Natures Apothecary’ led soap making workshops for the pupils and provided the raw materials. We don’t want all this good work to go to waste, and we are sure there are people out there at this time, when personal hygiene products are in short supply, who would appreciate our luxury soaps, as a gift from Cumber Claudy Primary School.”
The school is currently open to children of key workers, who are completing the packaging of the soaps. Shea Clyde, at the Diamond Centre in Claudy, will then take the soaps and distribute them to the elderly in the local community, as part of the care packages they are putting together.
Mr Tomlinson, principal, enjoyed seeing the creative process take shape. “The Primary Seven children tested many different scents and decided which scents to use and what to name them. We have “Citrus Burst,” “Midnight Stroll,” and “Pure Joy.” The children seemed to enjoy making the soaps and designing the logo most of all, but our more mathematically minded children enjoyed pricing the product and working out how much profit could be made. Of course, we won’t make a profit now, but, more importantly, we can help the elderly in the local area.”
