Entrepreneurial Year 13 students from Ōtūmoetai College have created a product that washes away the long-held woe of many a fisherman.

“We’re selling soap for fishermen to remove the smell and residue after one wash,” says ReelClean CEO and 17-year-old, Harleen Bains.

“Our soap is handmade of natural New Zealand ingredients including pumice and aniseed oil, so it leaves you smelling of liquorice.”

Harleen is leading the seven-strong students team who’ve created the business ReelClean, which is part of the Young Enterprise Scheme – a nationwide programme designed to foster entrepreneurial skills among senior high school students by giving them the experience of starting and running their own business.

Ōtūmoetai College’s business studies teacher Jason McNamara is a keen fisherman who is impressed with the soap.

He says ReelClean has taken a product that was originally invented in their Year 12 class and developed it further.

“Their product must be sustainable and innovative,” says Jason.

“On top of being an eco-friendly, biodegradable soap that really does combat those fish bait smells, they’ve now included tea tree oil to add antibacterial properties.”

ReelClean CEO Harleen Bains, production staff Akshita Saxena and Jazmin Howan and finance manager Kaitlyn Napier. Photo: John Borren.

Jason says the students came up with a business plan in class and are now making bars of soap in their spare time. They have three months to sell them and then review how effective their business has been. If successful, they may get selected for the regional finals.

“I’ve been surprised by how many people genuinely like and want our soap,” says ReelClean marketing manager Jazmin Howan, aged 17.

“We had our fingers crossed for success but after we talked to people at the boat ramp, we had amazing feedback.”

The students are selling ReelClean soap online and at local markets.

They’re planning to donate a percentage of their profits to the Wish4Fish charity.

To order some soap, visit https://reelcleansoap.company.site/

- SunLive