THINKING INSIDE THE BOX- AN INGREDIENT FOR SUCCESS
Thinking outside the box can be the key to driving a business forward, but for successful business man Rik Hellewell, thinking ‘inside’ the box is his latest challenge.
The Ingredients Box for Schools, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Gredi box’, is the latest brainchild of entrepreneur Rik, who founded professional oven valeting business Ovenu in 1994, growing it from a one-man enterprise into a UK-wide network of more than 100 franchisees.
The ingredients boxes have been designed by Rik as a way for pupils to easily and safely transport the ingredients they need into schools for food technology classes. He struck on the need after he found his daughters were struggling to carry ingredients to school, as well as having to take inappropriate amounts out of the kitchen cupboards.
Rik said: “The Ingredients Boxes for Schools allow students to safely bring ingredients into school, as well as be able to take home their creations in the same strong, sealed container.
“From a parental point of view, as well as keeping school bags free of broken eggs and spilt flour, the boxes will help ensure food isn’t wasted. I’m sure there isn’t a parent out there who hasn’t handed over a whole packet of pasta or a full bag of flour to their kids for cooking lessons because they haven’t got a suitable container to put smaller amounts in.”
The microwave and dishwasher safe boxes comprise of a variety of compartments designed to hold a range of ingredients. A two inch deep container forms the top part of the box, which can store both loose ingredients and the completed dishes.
The lower container is split into six sections. Three larger compartments, which are two inches deep, feature a measuring scale, in millilitres, for measuring liquid ingredients. On the side of the box there is also a section for students to write their names.
An additional benefit is a specially-designed storage for eggs and liquid, plus the inclusion of food grade plastic bags, ideal for a ‘teaspoon’ measure.
As a parent, Rik saw a gap in the market for an item which could bring potential financial savings for parents, while diversifying and providing a new offering for the Ovenu franchisees.
He said: “We’re always looking for new ways to make our franchisees more profits and we identified a while back that the provision of marketing ‘reminders’, such as promotional merchandise, worked well for our franchise owners and their clients.
“We wanted to expand the knowledge base into schools and, because of the synergy between cooking and oven cleaning the food technology route seemed a natural path to go down.”
Commenting on his vertical marketing strategy, Rik says: “The lateral thinking and desire for enhanced market share demonstrates the Ovenu philosophy of innovation, invention and initiative.
“We currently have an extremely brand-loyal customer base, but wanted to introduce the Ovenu mark to our next generation of potential clients. Pupils currently at secondary school will go on to become university students and enter the rental market, ultimately becoming home-owners and maybe parents themselves.
“By introducing a practical, money saving and branded item to young people now, we give the Ovenu brand a distinct advantage in later years when these they in turn need their ovens valeting.”
The project has taken over two years to complete and its timely arrival coincides with new Government legislation that will make cookery classes compulsory in all secondary schools over the coming years.
Rik added: “Our initial findings have been extremely positive. Children love the modern design and it was them that implemented the ‘text talk’ abbreviation of ‘Gredi-Box’.
“In the short term the Ovenu network of franchise owners will have unique access to the Ingredients Box to market directly to parents and schools. Then in the second stage of its promotion, anyone wishing to purchase a Gredi Box box will be able to order one from our dedicated website www.ingredientsbox.co.uk”.
The Ovenu network were introduced to the Gredi-Box in March this year, at the annual Company AGM and now that the items are readily available, many have taken an early opportunity of marketing the items in their own exclusive territories and reaping the rewards.
For more information about the Gredi Box please visit www.ingredientsbox.com or more details about becoming an Ovenu franchise owner and benefiting from the complete Ovenu franchise package, call Ken Rostron on 01325 251455.