Enterprising Ben is off to national final
A transition year student from Creagh College is set to represent Wexford in the National Student Enterprise Final with his innovative product Fridge Therapy.
Ben Handrick (16) was crowned the overall winner at the final of the Wexford Student Enterprise Competition which was held in March at the National Opera House in Wexford. He will travel to Croke Park tomorrow (Wednesday) to represent his county in the National Final.
Fridge Therapy is a tin of word magnets which allow people of all ages to leave messages on their fridge to convey their state of mind to those around them. Messages such as ‘I need help’, ‘I’m lonely’, ‘Having a good day’, or ‘Need a hug’ can be left on the fridge.
Ben sells Fridge Therapy through his transition year Mini-Company which is called Little Elephant Magnets. Fridge Therapy is currently stocked in numerous outlets around Gorey and the South East but Ben has bigger plans.
‘I am currently talking to a number of large retailers about stocking Fridge Therapy nationwide and I am meeting with ISPCC Childline as they are also interested,’ said Ben.
All profits from what Ben has sold during the Enterprise Competition are going to Childline and from now on at least €1 from every tin of magnets sold through businesses will be donated to the charity as well. ‘Businesses should give back,’ added Ben. ‘It’s not about the bottom line.’
Ben drew upon his own experience of having been a victim of bullying in primary school to come up with his innovative product.
‘Sometimes it is hard to talk face-to-face, the right moment might not come up but we still need to communicate,’ said Ben. ‘Everyone goes to the fridge every day so where better to leave a call for help or a thank you.’
The product is facilitating real communication in the real world, not on a tablet or phone. Ben said if it helps anyone cope better or be heard then he has succeeded.
‘If a child or a teenager goes to the bother of physically constructing a sentence to leave as a message it holds weight,’ added Ben.
Anxiety, stress, bullying, and depression are huge issues within society for all ages, so he hopes Fridge Therapy can help in some small way. Check out www.littleelephantmagnets.com