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 Kyles Wood Crafts
Kyle McMahon
Bobbybrook Youthreach, Coolock, Dublin 17
Youth Entrepreneur or the year 2011
Kyle McMahon (18) is in his 3rd year at Bonnybrook Youthreach in Coolock. Kyle always had an interest in woodwork and decided to try his hand at creating hand crafted wooden toys as part of the NFTE programme. Bonnybrook Youthreach supplied Kyle with all of the necessary equipment and training and much to Kyle’s delight his toys proved very popular. Kyle cuts all of the wood himself and hand paints each section.
From market research Kyle quickly realised that he had a strong competitive advantage in that his prices are much lower than competitors and his products can be customized and made to order.
Kyle was crowned NFTE’s Youth Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 at the 2011 All-Island Graduation & Awards Ceremony at the Helix, Dublin on May 5th. Kyle’s prize is an all expenses paid trip to Vienna in November 2011 to compete in the NFTE European Business Plan Competition and a cheque for €500. Kyle is in the process of developing a catalogue and a website. He intends on expanding his business in the very near future. |
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 Oven Glove Bakery
Niamh Kelly and Orlaith Mc Nulty
Rosses Neighbourhood Youth Programme, Foróige Dungloe, Co. Donegal
Finalist in the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards 2011
Niamh Kelly (15) and Orlaith Mc Nulty (15) are Junior Cert students in Dungloe in County Donegal and attend the local Foróige Youth Programme where they participated in the NFTE programme. The young women both have a passion for baking and decided to turn it into a business, where in they offer customised tray bakes and specially designed cakes.
They cater for parties, anniversaries and special occasions such as birthday parties, 21st and Valentines Day. They offer one to one meetings with their customers and will design the cake of their choice. They also deliver the cakes locally to their customers. Since they have set up their business they have to date made over €1,000 by selling over 50 cakes at a price of €25. Both girls would like to train as chefs in the future. |
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 Personal Touch
Ian Lee & Luke Madden
St Davids, CBS, Artane, Dublin 5
Finalist in the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards 2011
Ian Lee (15) and Luke Madden (16), from St Davids CBS in Artane set up their business, “Personal Touch” in response to what they saw as a gap in the market for hand crafted personalised yet affordable cards. Both entrepreneurs had previously designed cards as a hobby so it seemed like a natural step to launch their partnership.
The cards, priced at a reasonable €2, sold out rapidly when they attended the National Craft & Design Fair at the RDS in December 2010, so much so the duo had to start taking orders. Ian and Luke managed to break into the corporate market when a local café placed an order for 200 cards for their opening night launch. Both young entrepreneurs intend on pursuing business and economics when they leave school while of course continuing with growing their business. |
 Eco Couture
Ciara Ní Dhuibhir and Kayleigh Dorney
Colaiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Finalist in the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards 2011
Kayleigh (17) and Ciara (16) are fifth year students in Colaiste Mhuire Co-Ed Thurles. Both girls are passionate about clothes and fashion, and it is from this interest that their NFTE business “Eco-Couture” was born. Their unique and innovative company uses the new fashion trend of up-cycling-reusing something old to make something completely new –in this case old clothes are used to make unique handbags and accessories.
The girls carried out extensive market research, carefully researching their competition and found that their unique selling point was the fact that each bag was a “one-off”. No two bags are the same. In addition, Eco Couture’s products can be customised to the customer’s requirements and can also be made from the customer’s own item of clothing as required.
Due to the fact that the bags are made from unwanted clothes, Ciara and Kayleigh can afford to keep their prices affordable, which gives Eco Couture an excellent competitive advantage. In addition Eco Couture is a company with a social conscience, as it is environmentally friendly and also donates 10 percent of its profits to charity. |
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 Shattersports
Eoin Ferguson & Thomas Boyle
Education By Choice, Belfast
Finalist in the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards 2011
Eoin Ferguson (16) and Thomas Boyle (15) both attend Education By Choice an alternative education provider based in East Belfast. The two aspiring entrepreneurs came up with their idea due to their love of hurling and decided to create a novelty slither.
After conducting market research they realised that such a product was hard to come by and they decided to take advantage of this niche in the market. Their slither retails at £4.99 and the two intend on approaching local hurling clubs to stock their unique product. The young entrepreneurs also intend on donating a share of their profits to the centre they attend. |
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 CB Framework
Ciarán Byrne
Chanel College, Coolock, Dublin 5
Finalist in the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards 2011
Ciarán Byrne, (16) a transition year student from Chanel College, Coolock, set up his business of creating personalised framed pictures to supply the Christmas market. He quickly realised that his business need not be seasonal and was kept busy with orders long after the Christmas rush. Ciaran found that his product was the only product of its kind on the market and could be sold at a relatively good price, whilst still making a profit.
Ciaráns’ personal goals are to have the drive, determination and commitment to strive forward and run a successful business. He also intends on teaching younger children in his local community his craft so they may get involved in a similar business in the future. |
 Fashionators
Jade Nolan
Whitechurch Youth Development Project, Ballboden, Dublin 16
International Entrepreneur of the Year 2011
Jade Nolan (15) from Rathfarnham is a Junior Certificate student at Sancta Maria College in Ballyroan, Dublin 16. Jade set up her business “Fashionators” as part of the NFTE Programme run through the Whitchurch Youth development project, run by Foróige. The young entrepreneur makes original hand-made hair fascinators for all occasions. Jade was inspired by her grandmother who complained of the cost of fascinators whilst preparing for a family wedding.
“I came across the idea when I was a bridesmaid at a family wedding and noticed the topic of fascinators kept coming up in conversation…my grandmothers fascinator cost €80 which is very expensive for an accessory and wasn’t that unique”
Jade sells her unique hair accessories for €18 each and has found this price to be much more in line with people’s spending ability. Jade was delighted to win the prize “I am delighted to get an opportunity like this and really hope to keep on with my business"
The creative young entrepreneur has great plans for her future and intends on pursuing a career in design. Jade’s goal is to attend NCAD (National College of Art and Design) and would love to see people wearing her designs.Jade attends Jadethe Whitchurch Foróige club which is where she got involved in the NFTE programme.
Jade won the NFTE International Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award which included an all-expenses paid trip to New York to represent NFTE Ireland at NFTE's Eighteenth Annual "Salute to the Entrepreneurial Spirit" Awards Dinner in April 2011. |
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