Cochrane’s Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta branch, Tote-ally Green Distributors, will soon be wrapping up their efforts for the 2012-2013 year.
The leadership group, which is composed of 12 students, have spent the past 20 weeks developing, marketing and selling Eco On The Go, an insulated, reusable drink carrier.
Now, as the program draws to a close, the group is liquidating the company.
“We still haven’t met our break-even point,” said Meghan Hassan, HR assistant for the achievement group. “Our aim was to sell around 220 totes, with 25 per cent of the proceeds going to the Cochrane Food Bank.”
The carriers hold four cups of coffee and can be easily carried with one hand, in comparison to the flimsy cardboard carriers provided by most coffee sellers.
So far, Hassan said 214 totes have been sold.
After liquidation, the group will be paying out shareholders and paying a 25 per cent tax to Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta — and that’s on top of the 25 per cent that goes to the local charity.
No official liquidation date has been set, said Hassan, but the group will be working to sell as much product as they can before March 12, which is the day the group disbands.
While the group has had support locally, setting up booths at Safeway, IGA and the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, Hassan said it has been a challenge to gain recognition as a legitimate company.
“Most places won’t let us sell because there is no knowledge of the concept of junior achievement,” said Hassan, a 16-year-old, homeschooled Grade 11 student. “They think we’re just a bunch of teenagers.”
Now, the group is campaigning to reach their goal of selling 220 of the totes, but as of Feb. 18, there weren’t confirmed sales dates.
The group has contacted businesses in Cochrane and Calgary about setting up to sell the remaining merchandise.
To find out more about the product or to hear about future selling dates, visit toteallygreendistrib.wix.com/tgds or email [email protected].
Or check out Tote-ally Green Distributors: A Junior Achievement Company on Facebook.
