Imperial invites the public to pop-up market event

Members of the public are being invited to a pop-up market event at Imperial, which will test students' business skills.

Visitors will be able to buy a variety of products such as festive-themed jumpers and products, scented candles and lanterns, organic soaps and Dr Dre urBeats earphones at a 50 per cent discount, which will be held on Thursday 20 November 2014 from 10am-4pm at Imperial’s Queen Lawn Terrace.

The event is part of the Business School’s 360 Business Challenge, which is an ‘Apprentice’ style task aimed at current MBA students.  The five day project will see students tasked with the challenge of setting up business as market traders on Imperial’s grounds in less than three days.

Students will be split into ten teams and given budgets ranging from £200-£400 to source and buy products for their market stall.  The team will then sell their products on day four of the challenge.

One team will be attempting to break the world record of the most balloons sold in one day at a University campus.  The current record stands at 99 balloons set by Texas State University.

At the end of the event the profits made by each team will be added up and the winning group will be on the one with the highest return on their investment.  The winning team will have a dinner with Professor G. ‘Anand’ Anandalingam, Dean of Imperial College Business School, and a group of alumni.

Kira Hughes, Careers Consultant at Imperial College Business School, said: “The 360 Business Challenge aims to give our students a real insight into the many processes involved in setting up a business.  The goals of the challenge are to foster teamwork, encourage shared learning and enhance skills.  We welcome members of the public to come along to the pop-up market and buy a range of products that our students will have on sale."

The 360 Business Challenge is an activity offered to Business School MBA students as part of their programme. Each group’s activities will be observed by a career consultant throughout the week who will provide feedback on their performance at the end of the challenge and help them develop their leadership potential.