Young entrepreneurs lauded for ideas
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/09/2022 (1245 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A business fair just for young entrepreneurs showed it’s never too early to start a business venture.
Community Futures Westman (CFW) was happy to help some future businesspeople learn the art of the deal and start them on a career path with the inaugural Children’s Business Fair on Saturday. Seven young entrepreneurs running five businesses met next to the CFW building for their own business fair to compete for prizes and show off their skills and products.
When it was over, all five businesses received some kind of accolade, as well as $100. Best sales pitch went to Waffle Rush, run by Constanza Picasso; Grimy Slime by Freya Ford won most original business idea; Zoe Sofia Jewelry captured highest business potential; Sweets By Sophia Ford won best overall display and Afu Dog Treats by Iris and Ivy Zheng received most innovative idea.
Freya Ford shows off samples of her Grimy Slime, which won most original business idea at the Community Futures Westman Children's Business Fair on Saturday. (Karen McKinley/The Brandon Sun)
Making play slime was a hobby Ford shared with her sister, she said, so it felt like a natural choice to turn into a business venture. The slime is easy to make, but having to put her personal touch in it was the important part.
Ford drew inspiration from the animals around Clear Lake, naming the tubs after animals, such as Fox Phlem and Bunny Bleech.
From there, she designed the logos and brand name. And of course, she had to determine a fair price so she could make a profit, but make it attractive for customers.
“I like making slime because it’s fun for me and other people to play with,” she said. “I tried not to make the price too high because I have to make it.”
Ford’s ambitions don’t end with the fair. She is planning on selling Grimy Slime locally through other businesses.
The business fair was a chance for children and youth under 15 to show off their entrepreneurial spirit by creating and running an enterprise for the four-hour duration of the event, said CFW community development analyst Wendy Petersen.
Each one had to pitch their idea to CFW staff, she added, with an informal written business plan describing their products, how they pay for supplies and how they made their products.
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.
This fair was to help show children there are other career options besides working for someone else, explained Peterson.
“When they are teaching business in school, they talk about finding a job, going to university, or college, or go into the trades, but very seldom do they talk about starting your own business, which is the hardest one of them all,” she said. “This is a chance for these kids to explore that idea and see they can be successful.”
At the same time as the fair, the youth entrepreneur expo was running to show off work by participants in CFW’s recent side-hustle program. This was for entrepreneurs between 15 to 29, explained Peterson. 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.
There will be another instalment of the side-hustle program in October, which will be open to anyone between 15 and 34 years of age. There are also plans to have another Children’s Business Fair in the spring, said Peterson, possibly with the Creation Nation at Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation during their Spring Camp.
In addition to representatives from Community Futures, people from West-Can Human Resources Solutions, Career Employment Youth Services Brandon and the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation’s Creation Nation maker space were on hand to talk to kids about business development.
» kmckinley@brandonsun.com, with files from The Brandon Sun
» Twitter: @karenleighmcki1