Pocoya, a group of 19 Year 11 students from Mt Maria, are selling the Pocoya Floating Book and DVD shelves to the local community and the general public.
The floating shelves, made from recycled books and DVD cases replace boring, old bookshelves and are environmentally friendly.
To make a shelf, a handmade bracket is inserted inside an old book with the pages torn out or an empty DVD case and attached to a wall.
Books and DVDs are placed on top, covering the bracket, giving the illusion they are floating.
Pitted against 10 university teams and 11 school teams, the Pocoya team claimed the Overall Trade Expo winner prize, Sales and Product Knowledge Award, Merchandising Award and the Sales Skit DVD Award.
It was highly commended in two other categories.
The Pocoya team established the business as part of the annual YAA Business Skills Program, which brings together groups of students who set-up and run a self-directed small business for 24 weeks, guided by volunteers.
For the students from Mt Maria this meant dedicated teachers who provided extra curricular hands-on learning as they took on different roles within the company, for example managing director, sales director or finance director.
The Young Achievement (YAA) Business Skills Program was established in 1977 to provide young people with challenging, inspiring and educational experiences that promote lifelong learning and foster qualities of leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
A school spokesperson said the program allowed the Year 11 students to apply their skills and knowledge, develop teamwork, communication and leadership skills, and see how their technical skills contributed to job effectiveness.
