Year 10 Business Studies

Year 10 Business Studies PetStock Adventure! 

PetStock is a local business success story. Started on LaTrobe street in 2002 with just one shop, PetStock has grown to over 250 shops across Australia and NZ, with close to 4000 employees. Woodmans Hill year 10 Business Studies class got to see first hand how the business runs – visiting an outlet store on Mair Street, and then PetStock corporate HQ, which is opposite Bakery Hill McDonalds. 

Students were able to carry out their excursion during class time – with MyKis in hand we were on the number 15 bus, which dropped us within 3 good footy kicks of PetStock Mair street. Through questioning from the group, students learnt how PetStock distribute stock, how PetStock changed their business practices to survive during covid lockdowns, as well as how PetStock strive to be a green company.

One such example is what PetStock do with all their left over dog hair. As PetStock offer a dog grooming service, they have lots (and I mean tonnes) of dog hair clippings left over. PetStock provide their doggy hair clippings to a company than make oil spill kits – that’s right, dog hair soaks up oil spills almost better than anything else – much better than sand, which traditional spill kits are made of. Who knew?!?!?!

Students also heard from a young employee – Tom – who told his story of joining PetStock as a 15 year old, very interested in fish. PetStock supported him to study IT at uni, and he now works helping PetStock run their point-of-sale systems across the whole network. Tom said being open to opportunities to learn new things and take on new challenges is how he expanded his career horizons. 

Interestingly, of the 15 students who attended the PetStock adventure, 12 of them already work part time – at places like KFC, The Forge, Best n Less, Cheap as Chips, and others. Woodmans Hill students contributing to the economy and to the Ballarat Community. Champions! 

Right on 1.30pm we were back on the number 15 and on our way back to school. Our learnings will inform our next assessment task – a case study of PetStock where students research and analyse the market, legal conditions, and future opportunities of the pet supply industry. A great day was had by all! 

Mr. Cleary