Youth Entrepreneur Day to teach business skills
Kids are always looking for ways to make money, whether they’re selling lemonade, mowing lawns, delivering newspapers or working part-time gigs serving fast food.
Why not try to harness that desire and give them some skills to market their creativity at the same time, thought Loren Steyer, with Caver’s Realty.
Steyer was thinking about his co-workers’ children, who paint, make jewelry and sell cookies, when he came up with the idea for a youth entrepreneur day.
“All kids want lemonade stands, right?” Steyer asked.
Youth Entrepreneur Day will be noon-5 p.m. April 19 at Five Lakes Centre. The sign-up for the event officially ends Friday, but Marjorie Dollen, marketing director for the mall, doesn’t plan on being too strict with the deadline. Applications are available at the Community Education and Recreation Office and Five Lakes Elementary.
“They can set up booths, sell their products and learn how to be entrepreneurs — though most people don’t know what that means,” said Steyer, wondering if a definition should have been included on the event flyers. For anyone who doesn’t know, entrepreneur is defined as “one who organizes a business undertaking, assuming the risk for the sake of the profit,” according to Webster’s New World Dictionary.
Steyer believes teaching children how to be business-minded is important, especially in small communities where “Mom and Pop have left the Main Street.” He thinks many rural students want to leave the area and settle down into safe corporate jobs with 401Ks “rather than investing in a small-town business.”
“I hope this inspires them for the long-term,” Steyer said, referring to Youth Entrepreneur Day.
Participants must be 5-19 years old. They will receive free booth space at the mall to display their wares. Based on the applications turned in thus far, the sales items will vary greatly.
Steyer’s 6- and 8-year-old daughters, Molly and Josie, are planning to sell their coloring projects, and a few other miscellaneous items as well. On the other end of the spectrum, Dollen’s daughter, Heidi, will sell the purses she makes by recycling old jeans. Heidi, 18, learned how to sew from her grandmother, and she’s already sold several of her purses. One of Heidi’s friends plans to sell his artwork, graffiti paintings on poster board.
And yes, there will be a lemonade stand, too.
Some restrictions on food items are required due to liability. Rules and restrictions are explained on the application form.
The event also includes a photography contest. Up to three photos can be submitted for the contest — no later than Friday. Again, see rules and restrictions on the application form. Prizes for top photographs include a professional framing by On the Wall and $50 Five Lakes Centre gift card for first place; $30 gift card for second place; and $20 gift card for third place.