McGregor Waldorf School

The Setting up of Businesses

In order to make the school less financially dependant on sponsorships and donations, we are setting up businesses. These will:

Raise funds for the school, the profits being reinvested in the school to cover running costs.
Give employment opportunities for parents within the school (Parents are given the first option to be employed before other residents)
Provide students with opportunities to work, and in so doing learn about the working of a business and improve their skills base.

Existing Businesses

1. Bookmaking

The bookmaking project is going well. We are supplying many Waldorf schools with Main lesson books and made a profit of about R 30 000 in 2006. We also employ one parent on a fulltime basis within this business

2. Bench making and toys.

We are awaiting money for an industrial saw and plane so as to be able to process wood which is bought in bulk, and is thus much cheaper than that supplied by the local Hardware shop. This will allow us the opportunity to make benches, and then toys from off-cut materials.

3. Recycling

We are at present fundraising to set up a recycling depot in McGregor. We are needing funds for a trailer to transport the material, and fencing to contain it until it can be taken to Robertson. One of our parents, Peter Savage, has investigated making ceiling boards from recycled paper and other materials, a project which class 9 will now be expanded into a ceiling making business.

4. Shop.

We plan to open a shop in which to sell all products made by the school. This will include paper, jewellery (metal, paper and beadwork), benches, chairs and clothes racks, books, toys and copper work, etc.

5. Vegetable garden

We have started an organic vegetable garden, and will be selling the vegetables.

Future Plans

We are investigating the following opportunities:

Making of jungle gyms
Making of small items to be sold locally and overseas
Setting up a marketing company to market and sell McGregor products for a commission nationally and internationally, both through the McGregor.Org.Za website and through a sales representative.
Making leatherwork including sandals, whips and key rings.

We would greatly appreciate help with marketing, contacts and expertise.

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McGregor Waldorf School

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