A popular theme at the Children’s Business Fair in Ottawa Saturday was selling handmade crafts. The tools to make them aren’t too dangerous for children to handle. Even if they got the idea from someone else, the business fair rules are they had to produce everything themselves.
Aanya Agarwal sold jewelry.
Dixie Smick made a variety of things.
Ana-Elisa Scheick and her sister Thaila got a jewelry idea from a parent.
Ellie Maierhofer’s wildflower sales business idea came from something her family already did.
For many of them, turning crafting into a small business was a teacher’s idea. Chloe Carmona’s keychain, magnet, and bookmark business for example:
Ceci Reynolds sold a few crafts, but the baked goods were more popular. They sold out.
One entry wasn’t selling something to buy. Rider Thomas and his brother Gideon set up something to do. Customers could win prizes at a toy dart shooting range.
There were 22 entries in the event Saturday. The kids had to develop their own business plans, marketing methods, and product lines. Some of them did well enough to learn what it’s like to run out of stock before the business day is over. We’re planning another story later this week on what the kids did to meet the challenges and what they learned. The online version will have pictures of more of the young business people who talked to us.
Chloe and Mady Carmona at the Children’s Business Fair Saturday, August 13, 2022
Dixie Smick runs The Dixie Stop at the Children’s Business Fair on Saturday, August 13, 2022