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Unity, quality and change lead to success
by David Kelleher
It is never an easy task to create a rapport between a group
of 16-year-olds. Setting up a business, a successful one for
that matter, is, most of the time, nigh impossible.
However, when this does happen, the chances are that the business
will not only function but it will thrive. This is exactly what
a group of 24 students at Junior College did last year. In the
space of nine months, they not only set up a company and developed
an innovative product but they also managed to win the national
Young Enterprise competition. Following their success, the young
business entrepreneurs will be travelling to Moscow next month
to compete against 20 similar companies from all over Europe.
Speaking to The Malta Business Weekly, the managing director
of Metamorphic, Edward Basile Cherubino said unity among the
24 team members was the key to their success.
“We were a group of 24 young people who came from different
schools and different backgrounds. We succeeded because we were
united. Admittedly, it is not easy to motivate everyone, especially
when you are not paying a salary,” Edward said.
The company’s motto reflects the choice of name as well;
“Change is to grow, is to adapt, is to succeed. And the
choice of product?
“We took our time to decide what we wanted to make. While
other teams had already started marketing their product by December,
we were still working on the concept. However, by taking more
time at the development stage, we created an quality, innovative
and useful product,” Edward explained.
Metamorphic created what they describe as an alternative to
the hot-water bottle. Called Buddy, the young entrepreneurs
wanted a product that provided warmth, relief and comfort. They
developed a cushion containing a special kind of cereal that
could be heated or cooled depending on the person’s needs.
If left for a few minutes in the microwave, the cushion remains
warm for up to three hours. If left in the freezer for a couple
of hours, the cushion can be applied to the skin in the case
of an injury or simply to keep cool.
“We wanted a product that could be used by a large number
of people and not restricted to a particular age group. Buddy
is also safer because unlike a hot water bottle you do not have
to boil and pour hot water into a recipient,” Edward said.
Buddy was launched on the market in December at Lm3.50 per cushion.
Designed and made by the team, except for the inner cover which
was stitched by a dressmaker, the team expected to sell around
80 cushions but ended up selling much more. A number of variations
on the original product were also made that could be used on
different parts of the body. One, in the shape of a heart, was
a Valentine’s Day special.
“We had our ups and downs. However, what is important is
that we started out as 24 members and remained so till the end,”
he explained.
Metamorphic sold over 300 Buddy cushions until April when the
company was liquidated. They had made a return of 172 per cent
on each share which had a nominal price of 25c.
“As a company we did extremely well and the return on the
investment confirms this. Not only did we have a good product
but we had a quality product, two factors that helped Metamorphic
to win the YE competition,” Edward said.
Metamorphic are in the process of patenting their idea and hope
to sell the idea in the future. For the time being, however,
the 24 young members of Metamorphic have set their sights on
Moscow and, hopefully, another victory.
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