WHATEVER THE BUSINESS IT’S KID-LED !

active role. We want those imaginations to go wild. Children have sold asparagus, potholders and ceramic toys. The sky is the limit. One kid built a robot and charged people to take control of the robot.”

Once the idea is in place, it’s time to use the business savvy the Chamber teaches them. The future business leaders go through the Lemonade Day app independently. It takes about 90 minutes to complete the business plan. It’s an entirely free program, also available in Spanish and will be offered in Russian next year. After the program is complete, the kids get their very own business certificate. When Elanor signed up for Lemonade Day, she didn’t know much about small businesses but learned everything she needed to know for the big day. “It takes some work, but it’s really fun,” she says.

The business owners are also asked to create an elevator pitch for their company. This is a short description of their business and why their products are the best. While the temptation to gloss over this part of the process is there, Kenefsky says it’s crucial because, on Lemonade Day, the Chamber sends out secret shoppers who approach the kids’ booths and ask for their pitch. Participants do not know who represents the Chamber or not, so a good description could mean the difference between a sale or a missed opportunity. Kenefsky believes this gives the kid a chance to work on their presentation skills and gain confidence talking about their products with adults. Like anything else, communication skills take practice and must develop over time.

Open for Business

The excitement is palpable on the actual day. Just like when any business comes to town, the Chamber hosts a ribbon cutting. From there, the businesses officially open and are ready to greet customers. “The kids are enthusiastic,” shares Kenefsky, adding, “They support each other. [In years past, we have] found kids going to the booths next to them asking them if they needed help, looking at their products, oohing and ahhing over the creation of their peers.” In fact, Elanor says that was her favorite part. “I really liked seeing what other people did.”

At this point, much of the hard work has already been done. The kids worked hard concocting a creative idea, developed and cultivated a business plan, and worked on their elevator pitch, and now it’s time for the most exciting part of the day: making some serious money. Kenefsky knows that’s why they really came. “There are smiles from ear to ear,” she laughs.

Friends Louie and Oliver, both age 10, teamed up last year to create their business Love N’ Stuff. When deciding what to do, the boys went online and found some fun and colorful crafts to make. With a game plan in hand, they went to work creating melted crayon art, doggie bandanas, Perler beads creations, and decorated mason jars. Louie said one of the best parts about Lemonade Day was that people decided to buy something he made with his own hands. “I liked the continued on page 22 continued from page 20 process because I thought it would feel good to sell something that would hang in their home, and I made it,” he said.

For Louie and Oliver, the variety of items did them well, and they made over $800 on the big day, which they split down the middle. From there, Oliver bought himself a hoverboard, and Louie purchased an Xbox, with the addition of some birthday money. On average, most kids make about $369 in net profit.

Not only were Louie and Oliver able to buy the items they wanted, but they were also given the title of Youth Entrepreneurs of the Year for making the most significant revenue. With the title came the gift of brand-new bicycles. Buying items for themselves is a perk, but some entrepreneurs are using Lemonade Day to pay for upcoming school field trips or putting their profits in a savings account.

Another important part of the Lemonade Day concept is the idea of giving back to the community. “While some youth discover a great skill they enjoy, many also find an appreciation for giving to charity like the Humane Society or perhaps a youth group, scout troupe, or the 4H club they belong to,” says Janet Kenefsky. The charitable angle teaches the kids that no one succeeds on their own: it takes a team and community to make a business a success, and once a business flourishes, they need to help others do the same. According to the Lemonade Day Facebook page, the average participant gives about $94 back to the community for causes they care about.

A Commerce Community

While the kids take on a lot of the responsibility, adults are ready to help with anything they need. “It builds an incredible sense of community, so children [can] see what it [is] like not just to build their own business, but to go out and have a business and have thousands of business community members come out and support them,” says Kenefsky. “It really [does] exemplify what the chamber does in bringing the business community together in support of each other.”

The support has kids coming back to do it again. Oliver from Love ‘N’ Stuff says he will do Lemonade Day again for one simple reason. “I like making money!” Oliver is also excited to share his business wisdom with anyone on the fence about participating. He says it takes little to develop art that people would like to have in their homes. “All you need is a canvas, paintbrushes, or markers, and go crazy.” It’s a real-life experience that kids can’t get anywhere else. For Kenefsky, that is the purpose of Lemonade Day. “We want them to have great successes, but also to make mistakes, which is a very important part of owning a business and overcoming those challenges alone without intervention. We want them to learn how to build inventory so they can get better year after year.”

If you have a child interested in participating in Lemonade Day, visit LemonadeDay.org/ greater-vancouver to get registered for the 2023 Junior Market, which will be held June 3 at Esther Short Park They’ll work on goal setting and problem-solving skills that will help enrich their self-esteem and prepare them for the real world. And who knows? The next great idea could come from a kid!

Kristen Flowers is the host of the morning show, Nick and Kristen in the Morning on 99.5 The Wolf. She lives in Vancouver and currently blogs for her own website, www. AccordingtoKristen.com. She moderates the Positive Parenting Posse group on Facebook, a page dedicated to sharing positive and helpful tips about parenting. In her spare time, she’s working on her debut novel and making everything she possibly can on her Cricut maker.