Folio (Company)
Table of contents |
Inception
Folio are a Junior Enterprise company based in Colchester, founded in October 2004. Producing informative booklets, CDs, and organising Discos, the company announced a profit in its first 6 months. Working closely with Colchester Royal Grammar School, the company has made a close alliance, and continues to benefit from it. CRGS and its pupils make up the main target for the company.
Company members
The company felt that, expressed that, and proved that, a small, tight-knit company of talented individuals produces a higher-quality product than a loose, larger group of less talented members. The company was formed initially with 25 members, including:
- George Tuck, Managing Director
- Craig Owens, Assistant Managing Director
- Peter Howes, Marketing Director
- Richard Edwards, Assistant Marketing Director
- Andrew Jones, ICT Director
- James Fisher, Assistant ICT Director
Products and Services
Santaphonic Sounds: the Christmas 2004 CD
The most memorable product of Folio would undoubtedly be the Santaphonic Sounds CD, introducing the pupils of CRGS (and their parents) to quality, professional jazz music. Under the direction of distinguished musician David Burgoyne, and with the aid of Mr David Leveridge (head of music at CRGS), the end result was distinctly catchy and uniquely Folio. Smooth melodies and simmering rhythms, combined with searing chords and scintillating riffs, produced a sound that rivals that of professional jazz bands. The CDs sold like hot-cakes, with staff having to rush to their computers, occupying a whole computer suite at the school, in order to press more and more CDs for our jazz-hungry customers. Feedback was unanimously positive; customers were effusive in their praise for our musicianship and creativity. Thereafter the product became Folio's shining light, its piéce de rèsistance, its magnum opus.
Valentine's Disco
Organised for years 7 to 9 of CRGS and neighbouring schools, the Valentine's Disco brought the company much exposure outside of their normal environment. While sales were initially slow, leading to feeling within the company that the project was a locus desperatus, our intensive marketing campaign still produced the goods, and, as sure as light follows day and lupus est homo homini, sales soon picked up to a "more than satisfactory level" (C Owens, 2004). The end result was a success, largely because our group philosophy of maximus in minimis ensured that every little detail was executed to perfection. Indeed, necessitas non habet legem, and so we left no stone unturned in seeking out the very best for our eager customers. This was achieved through a strategy of group-wide nosce te ipsum, where each person knew his or her own strengths and acted accordingly. Unfortunately, a numerus clausus of guests was imposed by the site manager, so eager punters had to be refused entry at the door. However, this limit meant that when the guests cried nunc est bibendum! we had plenty of drinks and food for them to consume.
CRGS: The Rough Guide
Produced for new year 7s to the School, and to their parents, Folio aimed to produce an independent critique of the school that could be trusted. The pamphlet was received warmly by parents, who appreciated the clean design philosophy of Folio. However, it was less appreciated by the students.
CRGS: The Survivor's Guide
This pamphlet, produced for prospective students, is available from the Folio website and from CRGS. It introduces new students to the school ethos and, in a humourous and light manner, gives them valuable information about the school environment.
After the Rough Guide, this represented a change in mood for design, being aimed specifically at students, and less at adults. It concentrates heavily on visual representation, including cartoons. Folio, respecting the intellect of thee students at their grammar school, produced this with the knowledge that it could come across as patronising, according to a company statement given by Craig Owens, the current Managing Director.
North East Essex Area Finals
Folio represented Colchester Royal Grammar School at last Thursday's Finals Evening for North East Essex. They went to this event with high expectations of progressing. Unfortunately they only came away with the award for Best Presentation on the night. They were hoping to progress to the county finals. This failure is blamed on their failure to communicate (quote the official website) their professionalism rather than their inability to show this professionalism during their year in enterprise.