Children’s business fair set for Saturday

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This article was published 22/09/2022 (1247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon residents can see a future generation of entrepreneurs in action this weekend.

On Saturday, Community Futures Westman (CFW) is holding a children’s business fair as well as a youth entrepreneur expo in its parking lot at 217 10th St.

According to CFW executive director Wendy Petersen, the business fair is a chance for kids under 15 to show off their business acumen by creating and running an enterprise for the four-hour duration of the event.

“They’re allowed to bring a business idea,” Petersen told the Sun. “So far, we have five young entrepreneurs that are coming — all girls, which is kind of a surprise. Kind of empowering too, I think.”

The goods on display will range from jewelry made by a pair of sisters, homemade slime for playing, as well as cupcakes and cookies.

In order to participate, the kids had to write an informal business plan describing their products, how they’re going to pay for the ingredients to make those products and other details.

According to Petersen, two of the participants have pledged to donate any money they make to a non-profit or charity.

“If you want to be well-fed, they’ll have little samples of their goods set up,” Petersen said.

“The idea is for them to get some exposure for their businesses but also start them down that path of becoming an entrepreneur.”

There will also be waffles and hot chocolate for sale from six-year-old Constanza Picasso.

Constanza’s mother, Brisa Arvizo, said her daughter loves to “play store,” selling items and running a cash register.

“She’s super good at it,” Arvizo said with a smile.

When she and Constanza’s father, David Picasso, saw a Facebook post advertising the fair, they thought their young entrepreneur would enjoy the experience.

Originally, Picasso said the idea was to serve ice cream, until the temperature started to drop, so they decided to serve something more appropriate for the weather.

Constanza said that her special hot chocolate is made with whipped cream, sprinkles, coloured marshmallows and preferably served in a big mug at medium-hot temperature.

“They’re colourful and they look good,” she said of the marshmallows.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Petersen said late entries are still being accepted for anyone wanting to join, and that there will be cash prizes for participants.

At the same time as the fair, the youth entrepreneur expo will be running to show off work by participants in CFW’s recent side-hustle program.

That program is similar to the children’s business fair but aimed at people aged 15 to 29. After sending in a draft business plan, CFW staff critiqued them and worked with participants to improve them and train business skills.

Participants who completed the program got $500 to put toward their business.

The 18 entries from this year included a drone business, a bicycle-delivered ice cream project, jewelry crafting, window washers and even a DJ.

“I was overwhelmed by the amazing and inventive projects that these young people were coming up with,” Petersen said.

“We’ve invited a few of them to participate alongside the other kids for a couple of reasons: we want to showcase their businesses, but we want to show the younger ones that you can stay an entrepreneur and keep moving through that process.”

Though some ideas might appear silly at first, she said, they can develop into great opportunities with a little support.

For anyone interested in the side-hustle program, Petersen said there will be another intake for participants starting in October.

If anyone is interested in learning more before that intake opens, she encourages them to visit the expo.

In addition to representatives from Community Futures, Petersen said there will also be people from West-Can Human Resources Solutions, Career Employment Youth Services Brandon and the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation’s Creation Nation maker space.

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