The Journey of "Pure Glow" – A Handmade Soap Business
Once
upon a time in a small town, a young entrepreneur named Emma decided to start
her own handmade soap business called Pure Glow. She had a brilliant product
idea, but she knew that building a successful business meant building a strong
team. So, she set up four key departments to help her.
What is a Business?
A business is an
organization that produces, sells, or exchanges goods and services to meet the
needs and wants of people, with the main goal of earning a profit. It plays a
key role in the economy by creating value, providing jobs, and satisfying
customer demands.
1. Human Resources
Department
Emma’s
first step was to hire the right people. Her friend Daniel took charge of the
Human Resources department. He interviewed new staff, managed training
sessions, and ensured a positive work environment. Daniel also kept records of
employee attendance and performance.
📢
“A great team is the heart of every business,” Daniel would say"
Key functions of a Human Resource department
· Recruitment
and staffing
· Employee
training and development
· Performance
management
· Payroll
and benefits administration
· Ensuring
workplace compliance and safety
2. Production/Operations Department
In
the workshop next door, Emma’s cousin Olivia managed the Production department.
Olivia made sure all the soaps were made using high-quality ingredients, proper
tools, and hygiene standards. The team measured, mixed, and poured the soaps
into moulds, then carefully wrapped and packed them.
Key
functions of a Production/Operations
department
· Production
planning and scheduling
· Resource
management
· Quality
assurance
· Process
improvement
· Maintenance
of equipment and facilities
3. Marketing Department
Meanwhile, Emma’s younger
brother Josh handled the Marketing department. He designed eye-catching flyers,
ran social media campaigns, and organised pop-up stalls at local events. He
also gathered customer feedback and adjusted promotions to suit their needs.
Key functions of a Marketing department
· Market
research
· Advertising
and promotion
· Branding
and positioning
· Social
media and digital marketing
· Customer
engagement and feedback
4. Finance Department
Emma’s mentor, Mr.
Carter, looked after the Finance department. He tracked all income and expenses
— from buying ingredients to paying salaries. He also helped Emma create
monthly budgets, analyse profits, and plan for growth.
"Good products are important, but managing money smartly keeps the business running,” Mr. Carter reminded the team"
Key functions of a Finance department
· Budgeting
and forecasting
· Managing
income and expenses
· Financial
reporting
· Payroll
and tax management
· Investment
and growth planning
Together, these four departments worked like a
well-coordinated team. Thanks to their combined efforts, Pure Glow grew from a
small idea into a thriving local business.Emma smiled and said.
HR
finds the people, Production makes the product, Marketing sells it, and Finance
keeps it sustainable!”
Lesson for Business Students:
Every
successful business depends on its core departments. Understanding how Human
Resources, Production, Marketing, and Finance work together helps us understand
how businesses operate in the real world.
Critical Thinking Questions
a) Why is it important for Emma to divide her business into four departments instead of managing everything herself? What could happen if one of the departments didn’t function properly?
b) Each
department in Pure Glow has a specific role. In your opinion, which department
is most crucial to the success of the business, and why?
c) How
do you think the departments should communicate with each other to ensure that
the business runs smoothly? Can you give an example of a situation where poor
communication could lead to problems?
d) If
Pure Glow wanted to expand internationally, how might the roles of the four
departments need to change or grow? What new challenges might arise for each
department?
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