// Business Gift Project: VOCO Candle Development
✅ Product Concept & Branding
- Created 5 IT-themed candle slogans (Shut Down, Restart, Save As, Refresh, New File).
- Designed visual identity (colors, typography, packaging, and logo placement).
✅ Prototype Development & Testing
- Tested different packaging (square box, round box, sleeved design).
- Partnered with a local candle manufacturer to ensure quality & sustainability.
- Conducted real-life market testing at events.
✅ Client Orders & Customization
- Successfully fulfilled three bulk orders for VOCO departments.
- Managed custom design requests for packaging, messaging, and branding.
✅ Pricing Strategy & Cost Calculations
- Defined production costs & set retail pricing for profit optimization.
- Researched competitive market pricing for business gifts.
✅ Direct Sales & Marketing
- Sold candles at three major events, including Pärnu Design Day, VOCO Christmas Market, and Eesti Disaini Ala (Lõunakeskus Christmas Market).
- Gathered real-time customer feedback & adapted messaging accordingly.
🌟 Project Management & Coordination
- Led planning, execution & order fulfillment for all sales.
- Coordinated meetings with VOCO IT Academy, Project Services, and Food Department.
🎨 Product Design & Packaging Development
- Helped to design candle labels, packaging & branding materials.
- Helped to prepare print files & handled quality control with external vendors.
- Adapted packaging solutions to meet material constraints & client preferences.
📊 Sales & Market Strategy
- Negotiated bulk order contracts with VOCO department heads.
- Pitched the product at multiple meetings to secure clients.
- Managed event sales, gathering live customer insights for future improvements.
📊 Financial Oversight & Pricing Model
- Helped to create profit margin analysis to determine the best pricing strategy.
- Balanced production costs while ensuring product affordability.
- Tracked financial performance and documented revenue vs. costs.
🔹 Finding the Right Packaging Solution →
💡 Solution: Iterated multiple packaging designs until a scalable, cost-effective solution was found.
🔹 Client-Specific Customization Requests →
💡 Solution: Developed a collaborative approval process with clients to speed up feedback.
🔹 Managing Large-Scale Orders & Stock Levels →
💡 Solution: Pre-ordered materials in batches to ensure smooth production flow.
🔹 Balancing Production Costs & Profitability →
💡 Solution: Adjusted pricing strategy based on material costs & event sales performance.
🔹 Retail Event Sales & Customer Engagement →
💡 Solution: Refined sales pitch to highlight the uniqueness of IT-themed branding.
✅ Bulk Orders Drive Profitability → Focused efforts on corporate clients for higher volume sales.
✅ Product Packaging is Critical → Customers appreciated high-quality presentation.
✅ Live Customer Feedback is Invaluable → Real-time sales provided insights for product positioning.
✅ Pricing Model Needs Early Validation → Profit margins should be determined before market entry.
✅ Client Communication is Key → Clear expectation setting prevents project delays.
Final Takeaways
🔹 Successfully created a physical business gift product from scratch.
🔹 Managed the entire product lifecycle – from concept to sales.
🔹 Validated demand through direct sales & corporate orders.
🔹 Gained real-world experience in product pricing, branding & sales strategy.