Students get into new honey venture
What started as a backyard hobby has the potential to bring sweet success for four young entrepreneurs.
Students at St Peter’s College in Palmerston North have launched a honey venture, which will carry on once school is out.
Timcoulson, Jacob Cane, Emmett Skinner-vennell and Ashton Hesseltine have earned regional acclaim with City Slicker Honey, winning the Manawatu¯ finals of the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme.
They will compete against 20 other fledgling companies, and have presented five-minute pitches to judges at the nationals in Wellington yesterday.
The scheme is an experiential programme that helps students set up real businesses and teach them the skills needed to run it.
The business was started in a young enterprise class last year, born out of Tim’s beekeeping hobby.
When he was 11, he watched famous beekeeper Trevor Gillbanks give a talk at the library. ‘‘He took me out for the day, showed me the beehives, gave me a free box of bees, and that is where it all started,’’ Timsaid. He has his heart set on beekeeping after his studies end, no matter what becomes of City Slicker Honey. With Timin charge of the bees, Jacob took on the promotional side and Emmett built the website. Ashton joined the crew this year.
They have amassed 53 hives and are confident, though nervous, about the future of City Slicker Honey.
‘‘It is all well and good having a company, but if you don’t know what is happening in the next month, next year, then it is a bit of a worry,’’ Jacob said.
They have new products in the works and are hopeful of performing strongly in the environmental and promotional categories of the young enterprise finals.
The business started selling honey in plastic jars, but took on a sustainable approach, shifting to glass. It also offers creamed honey in biodegradable cardboard jars.
City Slicker Honey is distributed through several retailers in Palmerston North, but the boys said they have had most success through online sales.