15 pupils, one idea, loads of cushions and YOW!

The reason for this arrangement: a project run by the Josef-Hofmiller-Gymnasium in Freising in collaboration with JUNIOR GmbH.

JUNIOR is a programme launched by the German Economic Institute that enables pupils to set up a JUNIOR company for the duration of a school year – in keeping with the motto ‘learning by doing’.

Fifteen boys from the grammar school in Freising didn’t think twice and joined forces to form the JUNIOR company ‘YIP15’ (www.yip15.de), where YIP stands for ‘Your Individual Pillow’. The idea is as follows: the hard surfaces of uncomfortable school chairs are to be replaced with soft and comfortable seat cushions. The key feature is that the buyer can choose the colour of the cover and the design to be printed on it.

After a few teething problems with various iron-on designs, the group agreed to look for a more professional option. And that’s where we at YOW! come in… After a few phone calls and some joint discussions, it became clear that YOW! would act as a sponsor for YIP15.

On 23 March 2011, four boys from the group paid us a visit to familiarise themselves with the Secabo cutting plotters and transfer presses, as well as the various materials that will be made available to them until the end of the project in July.

During a short training session, the JUNIOR entrepreneurs were introduced to the TC 7 transfer press, the C60III cutting plotter and the creative techniques of textile finishing using flex and flock foils.

After the initial test results, everyone agreed: ‘It looks much better already!’

On 14 April 2011, the Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote about YIP15:

We wish YIP15 every success in developing their business idea – as we always say: Do It Your Own Way!