Celebrating Success of the Autumn Harvest Market & Showcase

Celebrating Success: The Autumn Harvest Market & Showcase

The crisp autumn air set the perfect backdrop for an evening of festivities at our recent Autumn Harvest Market & Showcase. Students, friends and family gathered to celebrate our talented young entrepreneurs' hard work and creativity.

The event started with a fantastic turnout, with eager students ready to display and sell their wares. From delectable treats to face painting and chalk art, there was something for everyone to enjoy. One of the highlights of the evening was the mouthwatering offerings from Sonny Side Burgers, whose delicious burgers tantalised the crowd's taste buds. Kung Food also delighted attendees with their flavorful fried rice, adding excitement to the event.

But the culinary delights didn't stop there. There was a feast for the senses, from hot chocolate, candy floss, sherbet, dango, and spring bulbs. And let's not forget the warming comfort of pumpkin soup, lovingly prepared by our Level One Food Technology students.

The atmosphere was buzzing with energy and excitement as attendees browsed the market stalls, sampled tasty treats, and enjoyed the vibrant showcase of student talent. It was truly a testament to our school community's creativity, passion, and hard work.

We were fortunate to have representatives from Netsafe at the Autumn Harvest Market & Showcase. They provided exciting virtual reality headsets for attendees to try, adding a new dimension to the event. Additionally, the Netsafe team was on hand to answer any questions parents may have had about keeping safe online, providing valuable information in a fun and interactive way.

Our talented technology prefect, Drew White, mastered the lighting and sound, ensuring the showcase performances flowed smoothly. Thank you, Drew. The Late News Band filled the air with music that warmed our hearts and lifted our spirits. The kapa haka group showcased their talent and cultural pride, leaving us in awe of their performance. Oliver and Anamika wowed us with their polished performances, showcasing their hard work and dedication to their craft. Camila's autumnal poem touched our souls, and Maddy's performance on stage was nothing short of fantastic.

As the evening drew to a close, there was a sense of satisfaction and pride in what had been achieved. The Autumn Harvest Market & Showcase was a presentation of products and a celebration of teamwork, dedication, and the spirit of entrepreneurship.

Once all the funds are collected, we will donate to Caritas, which provides aid and relief to people whose lives have been devastated by natural disasters or conflict.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, from the students who poured their time and effort into their projects to the teachers and staff who provided guidance and support every step of the way. Together, we created something truly special, and we look forward to many more memorable events in the future.

You may be interested in reading student feedback regarding their market success.

Various selling techniques and strategies employed in the market:

• Utilizing word of mouth and enticing smells to attract customers.

• Having a clear vision and offering appealing products for sale.

• Advertising competitive prices and adjusting them based on competitors' offerings.

• Leveraging help from others in advertising.

• Offering free items or deals to attract customers.

• Adapting prices based on competitors' offerings.

• Using the cold weather to their advantage.

• Engaging with customers by sharing the story of their products.

• Actively approaching potential customers.

• Creating visually appealing stalls to attract attention.

• Recognising the importance of product quality, aroma, and pricing in attracting customers.

• Selling out due to friendly customer interactions and appealing setups.

• Facing challenges when neighbouring stalls offered similar products at lower prices.

• Only sell certain items due to competition, offering them at lower prices.

What did you learn about working alongside others?

• We had to stay organised the whole time and not panic.

• Sharing ideas

• It's fun

• Teamwork makes the dream work

• I learned that it takes a lot of trust and teamwork to reach success

• that we needed to organize more

• Trust yourself

• It is tough but fun

• Communication is important.

• I learned how to work with my friends, how to sell and how hard to make money

• That we were great team

• Everyone has to do something and help

• How to have a system in place of how to cook the sausages and then hand them down the line

Would you consider running your own business at some stage in your life?

48% MAYBE

42% YES

10% NO

What would you improve if you could rerun the evening market?

• Get our stuff earlier

• More efficient expenses. Slightly higher profit margins.

• Make a cheaper rice dish

• I will improve the presentation of the product

• Our float, but apart from that, nothing else

• Nothing

• Triple the batch

• Have more stock to sell.

• More change, different food.

• More coins for change

• I would say more activities instead of the market

• Making sure people knew what they were doing

• I would improve the look of our stand

• Buy more sausages and cook more at a time.

• I will bring a warm jacket.

Did you have fun learning about running an evening market?

100% YES