Junior Achievement Trade Fair

The Junior Achievement Trade Fair on Saturday, 12 December, was a great opportunity for Cuscino to demonstrate our entrepreneurship, teamwork and leadership skills. At the beginning, consumer demand was lacklustre and we had to adjust our sales pitch in order to attract potential buyers. We soon realized that once we gained customer interest within their attention span, it all hinged on our skills in communicating the features of our product.

During the Trade Fair, we encountered some difficulties with inventories, as according to our market research, people favoured the pizza design over the futuristic one. However, the situation was the reverse and we needed to apply the scarcity concept and adapt our pricing strategies. By interacting with other JA companies, we also explored different product ideas and concepts which we had never thought of, and it was a great platform for knowledge exchange.  At the same time, we relished the competitive environment at the Trade Fair, which simulated market mechanisms in reality.

We were able to come up with the theme 'home' and successfully created the ultimate user-based experience by decorating our booth with simple wallpaper and a comfy sofa, creating a warm atmosphere. Our product is a result of creative thinking with a blend of originality and innovation. The reason we won the 'Best Booth' award out of 73 school companies was because our company performed strongly on all fronts. We had great customer service, a clear marketing strategy, and most importantly an inspiring concept behind the brand and business. As a student company, we realise that our society shares similiar aspirations and we hope to address consumer needs with lasting solutions. With the ever growing student fatigue, we are dedicated to building the uttermost comfortable napping companion with which students can enjoy a relaxed environment on the move.

After being awarded the ‘Best Booth’,  we were invited to a RTHK interview where we shared our JA experience with the audience. It was an informal conversation between the JA CEO, our business advisors, and student representatives. We talked about the educational purpose of the whole JA programme and shared the Cuscino company story. From design to production and to the Trade Fair, we explained the difficulties encountered and the learning outcomes from the experience. We also seized the opportunity to promote our company's future plan and hope that there will be potential investors to help us continue the brand’s success.

Arthur Chow (11A)