When most people think of children’s businesses, they likely imagine lemonade stands or dog walking services. But more than 100 Valley youth will break that stereotype on Nov. 5 as they unveil their unique goods and original services for judges and customers alike during the AZ Children’s Business Fair – Arcadia.
Young entrepreneurs from across the Valley, in grades K-8, will gather at Arcadia Neighborhood Park to launch their startup businesses and set up booths during the kid-run/kid-led event hosted by Acton Academy Arcadia.
“It’s a great opportunity for youth to develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy and launch their startups,” said Aaron Klusman, founder of Acton Academy Arcadia and local entrepreneur and investor. “They will also learn to understand how to obtain materials for their products and set prices to earn a profit.”
Kylie Brown, 11, participated in the event last year in downtown Phoenix and sold all natural and organic essential oil candles. She said the event taught her the importance of customer service skills, which she will remember when she opens her booth this year.
“I learned that you have to be really exciting and friendly to the customers,” Brown said. “You also need a good presentation and pitch in order to sell your products successfully.”
Youth participants offer everything from 3D printed figurines to hand-crafted jewelry and delicious treats plus much more at the annual event, which was held in downtown Phoenix last year.
Alessi DeBartolo, lead guide for Acton Academy Arcadia, is working with her students to produce about 13 booths for this year’s event. She said the fair offers her students a chance to set goals and strive to reach them.
“It’s an amazing learning tool for students to be able to come up with an idea and then make it come to life,” DeBartolo said. “We start with thinking of things conceptually and this is an opportunity for them to see their dream start very small and come to fruition, and even see that they might gain a little profit from it.”
The community is invited every year to shop and support the local businesses, while the panel of judges evaluates the entrepreneurs on a variety of criteria, such as most original business idea, highest business potential and best presentation/activity.
This year’s panel of local judges includes Coley Arnold, co-founder of Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market; Suzanne and Austin King and Fallon and Chris Liles, owners of Rafterhouse; Amanda Belinger, founder of Busy Bees Babysitting; April Warnecke, meteorologist for 3TV KTVK; Oye Waddell, executive director of Hustle PHX; Robert Schiller, CEO/President of ZoYo; Ryan and Caitlyn Jocque, founders of Original Chop Shop and Aaron Klusman, founder of Acton Academy Arcadia and local entrepreneur and investor.
“Exposure to such accomplished local business leaders coupled with the hands-on advice we give the youth to develop and grow their businesses help these kids find their calling to change the world,” Klusman said, “and, at Acton Academy Arcadia, that’s what we believe the goal of education should be – to help youth become lifelong learners and prepare for the new economy.”
DeBartolo added, “It also allows them the ability to fail and learn from that, but in a safe and encouraging environment.”
