Zug,03.12.2018

Learning how to turn the theory of business into practice

Pupils of the fifth class at the Cantonal School in Zug have been very busy of late putting in to practice what they have previously learnt in theory and in so doing have come up with some innovative ideas.

As a class of around 20, the pupils have been learning all about terms such as margins, break-even point and risk analysis and such like. Then, in smaller groups, they have been setting up business plans for marketing the products they have come up with. Sarina Burkard of Hünenberg, the CEO of the “Tucked-away” bag-making company, mentioned how she was concerned about the current lack of sales. “We just have to find new outlets,” she said. “We made 400 of them but only sold 10 per cent,” as the rest of her group wrack their brains about how to boost sales.

It was back in August that, as part of a law and economics course, the class began to consider this project, which involved setting up a company, developing a product and marketing it. “In so doing, they learn what it is to be an entrepreneur,” said economics teacher Lukas Honneger.

Two fifth classes are now involved in the Company Programme competition run by the “Young Enterprise Switzerland” not-for profit organisation, in which pupils from all over the country, some 45 classes in all, are involved, a first round taking place for pupils from central Switzerland at the Metalli centre in March next year. “What will be decisive will be how the pupils draw attention to their products and how they market them,” said economics teacher Guido Wigger. The winners will then go on to take part in the national finals.

It has also been the pupils’ responsibility to appoint senior staff of the companies and find capital. “Hence they have been selling share certificates to their parents and other people, who in turn will expect a dividend,” said Wigger. “Of course, it is all about profit, albeit it on a small scale.”

One the groups of pupils has developed a type of shaking beaker, which helps in the creation of perfect dough for pancakes. The ingredients and measurements necessary are all marked on the beaker; all one has to do is put them in and shake it about. As the CEO of Blendit, Gian Andrea von Opel, explained, “We have made120 of them and are considering expanding production.”

Other products marketed include plexiglass drinking straws, seasonal sweets and a glass which comes with baking mixture in which cress can be grown, and a waterproof saddle cover. What is more, in this latter case, a QR code gives access to an app, also developed by pupils, whereby the bicycle’s location can be found, as Seraina Fischer, the CEO of the “Firm in the Saddle” company explained.

Indeed, anyone attending current Christmas Fayres could well find some of these products on sale there. Some pupils have even set up a website for the products, outlining their progress on Instagram and Facebook, too. Not unexpectedly, much effort by both teachers and pupils has gone into this project, and as it has all been considered worthwhile, it has already been decided to repeat it next year. A similar project is also run at the Commercial School in Zug.

Meanwhile, Clara Kuhnke of Oberwil, the chief technical officer of the afore-mentioned “Tucked away” bag-making company, mentioned, not without undue pride, how pupils had been busy working on these bags after school, with handicapped people from the Zuwebe charity in Baar involved in sewing work on the insides, the regional and social elements of production being considered very important, too, reflecting a trend which larger companies are also focusing on these days.