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Activities
Our aim is to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of young individuals in our community who aspire to a future in business. The inTurn Young Entrepreneur Competition offers more than a typical contest; it is a dynamic experience designed to teach, challenge, and inspire. As a participant, you will gain invaluable business insights, develop critical entrepreneurial skills, and have the chance to prove yourself in a competitive environment.
At the core of this competition is the challenge to create and sell your own showbag. Each participant will design a unique showbag, filled with products of their choice, and your goal will be to generate the highest profit. The entrepreneur who achieves the most significant return on investment will be crowned the winner.
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Your journey begins with an exclusive in-house business training day, where successful business leaders will share their strategies and experiences. This will provide you with the practical tools needed to develop your own business plan and showbag idea. You'll also learn about budgeting, marketing, and the key decisions that will help you succeed in the competition.
Key Dates and Activities:
Information Session – Saturday, 28th June:
This evening session will introduce you to the competition’s structure and goals. A guest speaker from the business world will offer insights on entrepreneurship, followed by a question and answer period. During this session, the concept of the showbag challenge will be explained, and you will learn how profits will determine the winner. We'll also go over the competition timeline and your commitments.
Business Training – Saturday, 12th July:
This hands-on training with Dorset Energy Solutions staff will involve workshops aimed at helping you develop the skills necessary to succeed. You’ll work on refining your showbag concept, pricing strategy, and marketing plan, all under the guidance of experienced mentors.
Final Submission – Wednesday, 30th July:
In this stage, participants must submit their final business proposal and budget for their showbag. Proposals will be evaluated, and selected candidates will move forward to the next stage of the competition.
The 2025 Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show – Wednesday, 13th August:
Finalists will have their own stand at this prestigious event, where they will sell their showbags directly to the public. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your business acumen, making real-time decisions on pricing, marketing, and customer interaction. The competitor with the highest profits from showbag sales will win the competition.
Ideas for showbags:
​Showbags are more than just a fun, interactive product—they are an excellent exercise in business creativity and strategic thinking. Selling showbags gives participants a
concrete challenge with manageable constraints, allowing them to explore product curation, marketing, and pricing in an accessible, real-world context. For young entrepreneurs, this is an invaluable opportunity to learn how to design, market, and sell a product that combines creativity with business acumen. Showbags have a proven track record of popularity
worldwide, especially in places like Australia, where they have become a cultural staple at shows and fairs.
When it comes to designing your showbag, the possibilities are endless. The more creative your showbag, the more you can stand out from the competition.
Here are a few creative examples:
Showbags for dogs -
This type of showbag taps into the growing pet care industry, which has seen consistent demand over recent years. You could include dog treats, toys, and grooming accessories, as well as matching items for owners like dog-themed keychains, tote bags, or stickers.
Eco-Friendly Showbags -
The demand for sustainable products is rapidly growing. A showbag featuring eco-conscious items such as reusable straws, biodegradable products, and eco-friendly stationery could appeal to environmentally aware consumers.
Hobby-Themed Showbags -
From art supplies to DIY crafts or even gaming gear, showbags themed around a hobby will target passionate groups. You can create a showbag for "Aspiring Artists," complete with sketchbooks, paint sets, and pencils, or a "Gamer's Essential" showbag featuring accessories like controller grips, snacks, and mini figurines.
Consider creating a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis for your best showbag ideas. This tool helps you evaluate the potential success and challenges of your product by examining internal and external factors. For instance, if you're creating a "Local Delights" showbag filled with products from local artisans, a strength could be that it’s well-targeted to consumers at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show, who often appreciate locally sourced goods. If you’re creating a sweet-themed showbag for children, a threat could be the risk of a choking hazard, which would need to be carefully addressed with appropriate product choices. Doing a SWOT analysis will help you anticipate challenges and capitalize on your best showbag idea.
In addition, your stand at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show is potentially just as important as the showbag itself. Presentation matters—customers are naturally drawn to eye-catching, professional-looking displays. Your stand should reflect the theme of your showbag. Think of it as your “storefront”—a space that instantly tells customers what you're offering. Incorporate your colour scheme, thematic text, and any visuals that highlight the contents of your showbag. For instance, if your showbag is eco-friendly, your stand could be decorated with natural materials like wood or greenery.
Also consider:
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In a competitive environment like this, both pricing your showbag effectively and sourcing products strategically are essential. Instead of purchasing everything outright, consider reaching out to local stores and companies to negotiate free samples or discounted products. Many businesses are eager to support charitable initiatives like inTurn, allowing you to fill your showbags with quality products while keeping costs low.
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Create a buzz about your showbag before and during the event by leveraging social media. Set up an Instagram or TikTok account dedicated to your showbag, and encourage visitors to take pictures at your stand. You can even offer a small discount or a bonus item for those who share their experience online, helping to expand your reach.
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If you have multiple great ideas, why limit yourself to just one showbag? Consider offering different themed showbags to cater to a variety of customer preferences. Another creative option is a "Make It Yourself" showbag, where customers can choose the items they want to include. For example, you could offer options like picking between Fanta or Pepsi for a drink, or selecting between different types of snacks or small gifts. This personalized approach not only adds a fun interactive element to your stand but also allows customers to feel more involved, making their purchase more meaningful and unique.
Ultimately, running a stand at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show will give you the chance to make real-world business decisions—from setting the price of your showbag to interacting with customers. This experience is a crash course in key entrepreneurial concepts like supply and demand, customer service, and profitability.
