RYDE ACADEMY STUDENTS PRAISED FOR INNOVATIVE PERIOD PACKAGE PRODUCT

Year 10 Ryde Academy students have set up a new enterprise – Wisteria –  to sell period products to young women.

The group of 5 students have used their innovative product to enter a Young Enterprise Competition, which they aim to win.

The 5 young females – Leia Sparling, Robyn Moody, Matilda Whitewood, Evie Gallagher and Charlotte Tullett-Reeves – have 1 thing in common: a uterus. Which comes with the consequence of having a period.

Article continues below this advertisement

With this in mind, the girls aim to educate females on periods to make them feel comfortable and confident. They hope to achieve this with their monthly subscription period package.

Wisteria is a discreet package that can be ordered from a website, which covers period essentials along with comfort items and food cravings.

Their business idea has come from their own experiences, which has contributed to what they regard as their mission: to help females on their period feel less embarrassed and uncomfortable when going out and buying period products. With Wisteria, they believe, there’s no need for girls to worry when these products can be accessed from home.

The unique selling point of the product is that it is environmentally friendly: the tampons and pads are fully biodegradable. It is estimated that an average of 500 million sanitary products end up in landfill every month and a normal pad or tampon could take up to 800 years to decompose.

Article continues below this advertisement

The girls have claimed that:

“Whilst we aim to educate young females about periods, this is too the perfect parcel for a working woman in their busy everyday life. Wisteria has got you covered.”

The young ladies’ project has been mentored by Charlie Panayi, from Red Squirrel Property Shop.

Charlie says:

” Young people do not always appreciate that if you can focus, you can achieve great things.

“These girls have made a website and payment platform, done branding, created logos, and made the physical product. They have actually sold their goods, so it’s not just talk.

“They have big plans in terms of future growth. They are looking forward to seeing how the business develops. They have a can do attitude and the ability to get things done.

“I don’t know many young people who can do something like this in a manner of weeks.”

Charlie has praised the girls’ Design and Technology teacher, Libby Triggs, whom, he says, has been enthusiastic and supportive of the girls.

Wisteria period products can be accessed at https://www.wisteriabox.co.uk/.