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Student business idea clicks for competition
A new venture proposal by two University of the Sunshine Coast students targeting the region’s growing information industry has won a competition for “Best Small Business Idea”.
USC Business student Alena Ratzel, 24, of Alexandra Headland, and Business (Management) student Tammy Halsall, 35, of Marcoola, spent a semester creating their proposed company, Trade-a-Round.
“It’s a business with an online, web-based platform where the staff would act as mediators between customers and traders,” said Alena, a German student who will graduate from USC later this year.
“There are so many people spending hours researching a product or service on the Internet and phone. Our business would make it faster and easier and do it all for them.”
She said the business would make recommendations about products or services based on the customer’s needs and aim to support local firms where possible.
“I’ve worked in multinational companies in Germany and now I’m learning a lot about small business and entrepreneurship through the Small Business and New Venture Management course at USC,” said Alena, who intends to study a Masters.
“Australians seem to be very entrepreneurial but you need the right personality. The course is practical and inspiring.”
Tammy, a hairdresser of 16 years, said her USC Business studies were having dual benefits.
“I’m really enjoying the program because it’s giving me knowledge to support my own business, Red Silk Organic Hair Salon, as well as offering me career alternatives for down the track,” she said.
USC Business Lecturer Dr Leone Cameron said 80 of her students participated in the competition supported by the USC Innovation Centre and educational publisher Cengage Learning, which provided $200 in book vouchers as the prize.
“The students were asked by the Innovation Centre to come up with ideas that would fit the centre’s operations,” Dr Cameron said.
“The Innovation Centre’s business owners provided guest lecturers who demonstrated for students the real issues facing small business on the Coast.”
– Julie Gatehouse