We launched our PEER Business Development Programme this week which brings together young Professionals and Entrepreneurs Engaging for Results (PEER – Geddit? I don’t know how we think of ’em!), and I’m glad to say it got off to a great start!
Most of the participants are in their 20?s (our youngest entrepreneur is Chris of Ding Sauce who is only 16!) and apart from making me feel very old, it’s brilliant to work with ‘young’ people and feel their enthusiasm and drive in making their businesses work.
However, even our ‘youngsters’ aren’t as young as this fine gentleman who has established a 3D business called Not Before Tea! 9 year old Henry Patterson, from Bedfordshire, sells jars of sweets aimed at 2 to 11-year-olds and his business really is Dramatically and Demonstrably Different!
When his mum started her sweet business he asked her what she was doing specifically for children and then decided to do it for himself and his business ‘demonstrates’ a number of the ingredients of Characteristic #3: ‘Think in 3D’!
First of all he has a clear focus on the sort of customers he wants to work with (‘Choose ‘Em Or Lose ‘Em!’) by targeting those 2 to 11 year olds. He then focuses even more with targeted products which include “Not for Boys,” “Not for Girls” and “Mud & Worms”!
But it’s not just about the sweets. Henry really has established a ‘bundle of unmatchable skills, methods and practices that differentiate his business from its competitors’ (‘Establish A Dramatic Difference!’) and believes that “Sweets must be as fun as toys and do stuff”. So he delights his customers by ensuring that every jar has ‘something extra’ and that something extra is ‘magic dust’ which you can sprinkle and make a wish as you eat your sweets! Henry says on his website “It is great to use when you are making wishes or doing spells and it really, really works”
It doesn’t stop there – when the sweets run out, Henry’s products ‘soften the blow’ as they come with glass pens to decorate the jars! He keeps his marbles in his apparently!
Henry is always on the look out for ideas to develop his ‘Dramatic Difference’ (3D Characteristic #7 InnovatiON’!). For example, he includes 6 reward stickers for grown-ups to give to children to make sure they clean their teeth. “I hate cleaning my teeth after I have eaten sweets but love getting stickers at the dentist. That’s how I got the idea,” he says.
Having been shortlisted for a prize at the inaugural Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Henry is certainly not stopping there! “I am so excited to be nominated” he said “I want to encourage other children with inventions and business ideas to launch them. I have had a great time so far with my business”.
Another great example that shows leadership comes at every level!
