Asked about her favorite part of the annual Acton Children’s Business Fair in Madison, 9-year old Corrine quipped, “being creative and making profit!”
She launched her business, So Fresh by Corrine, last year and has dedicated herself to manufacturing natural bath products with home-grown herbs over the kitchen stove ever since. At the upcoming 2nd Annual Acton Children’s Business Fair, Corrine will expand into gift baskets and insect repellents.
Emerson Palmer, a 7-year old, sold 3D-printed track switches for wooden train sets last year. He is brainstorming something new. “3D-printed toys, or coloring books of my favorite ships or submarines.” Emerson wants to earn money for a LEGO set.
At this year’s Acton Children’s Business Fair, children ages 6 - 12 can work individually or as teams. They must fund their business on their own using savings or a loan from friends or family that they pay back. They must do the work themselves, and they must interact with customers at the fair themselves. Early applications are due March 15.
“Children are so capable,” said Marisa Palmer, Co-Founder of Acton Academy Madison West and host of the Acton Children’s Business Fair. “For the fair, children take an idea and make it real, while developing financial literacy, marketing skills, and building confidence.”
Do some children fail? “More succeed than not. It’s a wonderful learning experience and way to develop resilience,” says Palmer. “A mom told us about her sons selling beautiful picture frames for $20 each. They weren’t selling, and she was anxious about letting them fail. With an hour left in the fair the boys came up with the idea themselves to reduce their prices to $15 and sold out, making a $70 profit.”
Apply for a booth or shop the fair and support Madison’s youngest entrepreneurs!
