As Guernsey prepares to celebrate the 80th anniversary of its Liberation, a group of enterprising students from Elizabeth College has found a creative way to contribute to the occasion.
Through the Young Enterprise programme, they have designed and launched a special range of dog bandanas, symbolising the island’s freedom through the loyalty and spirited nature of its canine companions.
The team consists of five Year 12 students, each responsible for a different aspect of the business, including Managing Director, Finance Manager, Marketing Director, Creative Director, and Certificate Organiser. Their journey began with challenges, as their original product, a tie, proved difficult to produce and sell. Faced with this setback, the students reconsidered their approach.
“We listed our struggles and sought a solution that would address them all while uniting our community in celebration,” explained Managing Director Mary-Anne Chamberlain. “Morale was low, and some members even considered giving up. However, our new product has completely transformed our outlook.”
The idea for the bandanas came at a fitting time, as Elizabeth College’s term theme focused on Liberation. “Learning about our school’s efforts to maintain education standards even while students were outside the island was incredibly moving. This story sparked our imagination, ultimately leading to the creation of our product,” said Mary-Anne.
Once they had settled on the idea, the team designed a promotional poster and shared it within their advisors’ work networks. The response was immediate. “Within just two hours, we were fully booked with pre-orders!” she said. “The public response was overwhelming – in the best way possible. So far, we have sold 25 bandanas and secured 36 more pre-orders for the next batch. Customers have even started sending in pictures of their dogs wearing the bandanas, which has created heart-warming reactions and organically boosted our marketing efforts.”
Reflecting on the challenges faced along the way, Mary-Anne noted: “I have never seen such rapid improvement before. We learned to collaborate more effectively, stick to deadlines, and support each other through setbacks.”
On a personal level, she shared how the experience has helped her grow: “I’ve always been hesitant when making decisions, but this journey has taught me to take calculated risks while motivating and organising (some may joke ‘bossing around’) my friends to achieve real progress.
“I’m truly proud that we persevered, adapted, and ultimately thrived.”
