KIDpreneur Holiday Pop-up Shop Saint Joseph, Michigan event image
📣 Welcome! We have a couple of spots left and are still accepting applications!

KIDpreneur Holiday Pop-up Shop Saint Joseph, Michigan

Sunday, December 12, 2021

12:00PM - 4:00PM

Box Factory For the Arts

1101 Broad St, St Joseph, MI 49085, USA

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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!

Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace. 

We will host 20 booths at the1st annual KIDpreneur Pop-Up Shop at the Box Factory for the Arts on Sunday, December 12, 2021, from 12 pm – 4 pm.

This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers.  We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.

Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
Hosted by

Heather Shelby

🗓️ Started hosting in 2021

Identity verified

🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs

I am a passionate entrepreneur, teacher, and mentor, who wants children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?

The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.

How many businesses will you accept?

We will accept up to 20 businesses.

Where should I begin? 

Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.

How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?

Your application must be submitted online. Please submit one application for each business. Children working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business.

What is on the application?

The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:

  • What product or service do you plan to sell?
  • What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you?
  • How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back?
  • How will you advertise/market your business before the fair? 
  • At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success? 

What if someone else has the same business idea?  

Two cupcake businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out, though we will let later entries know if another applicant has a similar idea so the later entrant can decide what to do.

How will the fair be set up?

The fair will be indoors with tables. Each business will be given a space with an 8-foot table (to share with one other business), a black table cloth, and 1-2 chairs. 

Will electricity be available?

Please let us know if you require electricity and we will place you near an outlet. However, you need to provide your own extension cord.

What are the rules? 

This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. Parents should NOT market or sell their child's product for them.

Parents of younger children may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for setup, customer interaction, and sales.

Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.

How did the Acton Children’s Business Fair get started?

Jeff and Laura Sandefer and a few other families wanted to spark a sense of wonder and entrepreneurship in their children so they created the first Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin, Texas, in 2007. That year, there were seven entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees. Now, there are over 115 entrepreneurs and 1,500 attendees at the Acton Children's Business Fair in Austin.

Our incredible sponsors

Children's Business Fair

Acton Academy

Next Great Adventure

Box Factory for the Arts