Year 9 student excels at the Letterbox Challenge Marketing Task

The two Year 9 Business groups are currently working on the Marketing topic. It is always a popular subject which allows students to use their creativity to solve a business problem.

There have been articles in the press recently about consumer demand for products that can fit through letterboxes during the lockdown period. This helps for security of delivery, avoids contact and also promotes social distancing.

The students were given the task of developing a new product that could fit through a letterbox.  We had some brilliant ideas ranging from chocolates and bath products, branded T-shirts, and a very ingenious hairbrush that doubles as a mirror.

The Business teachers were stunned to see the product idea that Francis Nicholson had come up with ‘Safety First’- A kit containing 4 reusable fabric masks with 8 filters, 4 pairs of disposable gloves and a 50ml bottle of hand sanitizer. The kit comes in a rectangular recyclable cardboard box which fits through all standard letter boxes.  The idea is original, topical and meets the needs of the target market, with complete information on pricing and delivery.

Mrs Clish, Lead Teacher for Business, and Ms Mannion, Careers Leader, both agreed that this is the standard they would expect from Year 12 students in the first year of the A-level course.

Ms Mannion said: “I love setting brand new project work, and I also knew that the Year 9 students were up to the challenge of the task. The idea that Francis developed is excellent.”

Mrs Clish added: “One of the great aspects of Business is that students can engage with current affairs, students learn to be aware of external factors, such as the economy and the environment, and how these impact on business.”