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This event has been re-scheduled until further notice. Register here: https://myfirstsale.com/fair/neoyem/
Northeast Ohio Youth Entrepreneur Marketplace
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
10:00AM - 12:00PM
This fair has ended
Find another fair
About the fair
HELLO!!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE NORTHEAST OHIO YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR MARKETPLACE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE AVON LAKE CHILDREN'S BUSINESS FAIR).
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HOST THIS YEAR'S EVENT VIRTUALLY ON JULY 24, 2021, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MYFIRSTSALE!!
Business booths may contain up to 3 participants as partners or siblings. Mini-moguls and teen tycoons ages 8 to 17 are encouraged to participate. All products for sale must be SELF-CREATED. No resale of pre-manufactured items may be represented
HOW TO REGISTER:
1. Business owners: Use the link below to take you directly to MyFirstSale to register your business.
https://myfirstsale.com/fair/neoyem/
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you choose to use the GREEN "Apply to the Fair" button on this site. It will require two forms to be completed. One for this site and one on the MyFirstSale site. Registration payment will be collected on the MyFirstSale site.
2. We encourage the business owner to complete the registration, complete all the video lessons, and plan their business launch as independently as possible. The parent's job is to "oversee" their child's progress and be available if they need assistance.
Here is what is included in the virtual event this year:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE NORTHEAST OHIO YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR MARKETPLACE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE AVON LAKE CHILDREN'S BUSINESS FAIR).
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HOST THIS YEAR'S EVENT VIRTUALLY ON JULY 24, 2021, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MYFIRSTSALE!!
Business booths may contain up to 3 participants as partners or siblings. Mini-moguls and teen tycoons ages 8 to 17 are encouraged to participate. All products for sale must be SELF-CREATED. No resale of pre-manufactured items may be represented
HOW TO REGISTER:
1. Business owners: Use the link below to take you directly to MyFirstSale to register your business.
https://myfirstsale.com/fair/neoyem/
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you choose to use the GREEN "Apply to the Fair" button on this site. It will require two forms to be completed. One for this site and one on the MyFirstSale site. Registration payment will be collected on the MyFirstSale site.
2. We encourage the business owner to complete the registration, complete all the video lessons, and plan their business launch as independently as possible. The parent's job is to "oversee" their child's progress and be available if they need assistance.
Here is what is included in the virtual event this year:
1. A safe online sales platform with payment processing included.
2. A virtual "shop" that may stay open for up to one year after the event.
3. Entrepreneurship training video lessons to help you get ready to launch your virtual store.
4. An opportunity to win prize money from the business competition.
5. Custom fair web page and directory that tracks sales and business activity automatically.
6. Earn badges when reaching various milestones, and so much more!
The registration fee is $47.00 per business booth.
We think it's important to provide an opportunity for young people to experience entrepreneurship and business ownership! However, SAFETY is our first priority. We believe by offering a virtual event during the pandemic is a responsible way to accomplish our mission.
We also think Kidpreneurs are amazing people. They may be young but they are creative, visionary, talented, and very courageous! We are truly inspired by ALL of the young business owners.
The registration fee is $47.00 per business booth.
We think it's important to provide an opportunity for young people to experience entrepreneurship and business ownership! However, SAFETY is our first priority. We believe by offering a virtual event during the pandemic is a responsible way to accomplish our mission.
We also think Kidpreneurs are amazing people. They may be young but they are creative, visionary, talented, and very courageous! We are truly inspired by ALL of the young business owners.
This marketplace showcases SELF-CREATED products made by kids and teens. They are responsible for developing a product, a brand, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
In July 2019, we successfully hosted 36 booths with 50 participants at the 2nd Annual event in Avon Lake.
Whether or not kids continue their journey toward becoming a business owner as an adult is not important. Kids who stretch out of their comfort zones will develop resilience, self-reliance, perseverance, and valuable skills to accomplish even bigger goals.
Even if the experience does not go as planned, there are valuable lessons learned. Experiencing business ownership and all that it involves has much more of an impact than just reading about it in a book.
We believe the best time to start a business is anytime. An even better time to start a business is when you're YOUNG!
Whether or not kids continue their journey toward becoming a business owner as an adult is not important. Kids who stretch out of their comfort zones will develop resilience, self-reliance, perseverance, and valuable skills to accomplish even bigger goals.
Even if the experience does not go as planned, there are valuable lessons learned. Experiencing business ownership and all that it involves has much more of an impact than just reading about it in a book.
We believe the best time to start a business is anytime. An even better time to start a business is when you're YOUNG!
Kids and teens - join in the excitement of running your own business for a one-day marketplace VIRTUALLY! Your business could very well continue beyond this event and we sure hope that it does!
We look forward to seeing you and your business take flight!
If you are interested in supporting youth and entrepreneurship, become a SPONSOR! Contact us at neoyouthmarketplace@gmail.com.
2019 Avon Lake Children's Business Fair Winners
We look forward to seeing you and your business take flight!
If you are interested in supporting youth and entrepreneurship, become a SPONSOR! Contact us at neoyouthmarketplace@gmail.com.
2019 Avon Lake Children's Business Fair Winners
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Hosted by
Caroline Benedum
🗓️ Started hosting in 2018
🚀 Has hosted 4 fairs
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, who want to provide an opportunity for youth to learn about entrepreneurship in a fun and practical way.
We believe that the best way to learn about entrepreneurship is to "learn by doing". Young people should have an opportunity to experience entrepreneurship at least once in their lives.
Whether or not marketplace participants continue their journey toward becoming business owners as adults is not important. Kids who stretch out of their comfort zones will develop resilience, self-reliance, perseverance, and skills to accomplish bigger goals later in life. Even if the experience may not go as planned, there is a lesson involved. Learning about creating a business by actually creating one has much more of an impact than just reading about it in a book.
The best time to start a business is ANYTIME! An even better time to start a business is when you're young!
We believe that the best way to learn about entrepreneurship is to "learn by doing". Young people should have an opportunity to experience entrepreneurship at least once in their lives.
Whether or not marketplace participants continue their journey toward becoming business owners as adults is not important. Kids who stretch out of their comfort zones will develop resilience, self-reliance, perseverance, and skills to accomplish bigger goals later in life. Even if the experience may not go as planned, there is a lesson involved. Learning about creating a business by actually creating one has much more of an impact than just reading about it in a book.
The best time to start a business is ANYTIME! An even better time to start a business is when you're young!
Frequently asked questions
The Avon Lake Children's Business Fair has GROWN and is now known as the Northeast Ohio Youth Entrepreneur Marketplace. It is a non-profit organization designed to inspire children to discover their inner entrepreneur through learning by doing.
Our organization is a part of one of the largest entrepreneurial events for kids in North America and other parts of the world through Acton Children's Business Fair and Acton Academy and MyFirstSale.
This one-day marketplace allows kids and teens to showcase and sell their very own self-created products and services to the general public.
Our organization is a part of one of the largest entrepreneurial events for kids in North America and other parts of the world through Acton Children's Business Fair and Acton Academy and MyFirstSale.
This one-day marketplace allows kids and teens to showcase and sell their very own self-created products and services to the general public.
What is the purpose of NEOYEM?
The purpose of this event is to give children a LEARNING experience of CREATING and SELLING their products or services.
It is designed for kids/teens to experience activities associated with starting and running a business from ideation, planning, creation of their product or service, learning about profit, handling money, how to present themselves and their product/service, how to set up a virtual business booth, and how to interact with potential customers.
It is designed for kids/teens to experience activities associated with starting and running a business from ideation, planning, creation of their product or service, learning about profit, handling money, how to present themselves and their product/service, how to set up a virtual business booth, and how to interact with potential customers.
How many businesses will we accept?
We will accept up to 100 youth businesses at the virtual marketplace.
What is the age range for participants?
Children must be at least 8 years old to participate. If a child is 7 or nearly 8 years old and is participating with older siblings participation may be allowed.
Teens up to 17 years old may participate.
What is the age range for participants?
Children must be at least 8 years old to participate. If a child is 7 or nearly 8 years old and is participating with older siblings participation may be allowed.
Teens up to 17 years old may participate.
All participants are expected to operate their businesses independently without parental or adult assistance regardless of age. Allowances may be considered for special circumstances on an individual basis.
How do I apply?
- Registration must be submitted online here: https://myfirstsale.com/fair/neoyem/
- Submit ONE registration for 0NE business/participant/booth.
OR
- Submit ONE registration for ONE business with more than one participant. Include each participant's information.
- There is a limit of 3 participants per business booth. (siblings, partners, or hired help under 18).
- No adults as additional participants.
- IMPORTANT: Additional participants added on after the application is submitted must be approved before the event.
- Fees for the business booth and/or additional participates are collected upon registration.
NOTE: It is not necessary to register on this site. Please use the MyFirstSale link: https://myfirstsale.com/fair/neoyem/
What if someone else has the same business idea?
The fair's history shows that it is highly likely that more than one baked goods business will be selling their products in the marketplace. Competition is a real factor in the business world.
Think about how you want to present your product or service uniquely. How you can make YOUR product or service stand out from your competition?
Should product or service competition discourage you from participating? Absolutely not! We will let market forces play out. We will let you know if others have a similar idea so you can decide what you want to do.
Remember, there are a ton of pizza, burgers, and ice cream shops within minutes from each other but they are all different and attract different customers.
May we use a credit card processing service?
My First Sale has a card processing component for all customers on the virtual site.
Are the businesses judged in a competition?
Yes! While the competition component is not the focus of the fair. Each booth will be visited by a judge or two asking the business owner a few questions. Certain businesses that have demonstrated outstanding qualities will be recognized and awarded with cash prizes. All participants will receive a Certificate of Recognition.
Think about how you want to present your product or service uniquely. How you can make YOUR product or service stand out from your competition?
Should product or service competition discourage you from participating? Absolutely not! We will let market forces play out. We will let you know if others have a similar idea so you can decide what you want to do.
Remember, there are a ton of pizza, burgers, and ice cream shops within minutes from each other but they are all different and attract different customers.
May we use a credit card processing service?
My First Sale has a card processing component for all customers on the virtual site.
Are the businesses judged in a competition?
Yes! While the competition component is not the focus of the fair. Each booth will be visited by a judge or two asking the business owner a few questions. Certain businesses that have demonstrated outstanding qualities will be recognized and awarded with cash prizes. All participants will receive a Certificate of Recognition.
What are the rules?
- Each participant is responsible for the CREATION of their very own product or service, marketing and promotion by INVITING family and friends to come to the event, handle SALES, and INTERACT with customers, and arrange shipment or pick-up of purchased products with customers.
- Important: Products that have been produced by others or professionally manufactured are not allowed. Your child must represent the products or services that they have created through their own efforts. Immediate disqualification from the event will occur when this circumstance is discovered during the event.
- This event is designed to give children the experience of selling their self-created products or service. Please let your child have the privilege of running their own business and booth independently.
- Any parent seen selling to the customer or promoting the child’s product will result in disqualification from the competition unless there is a special arrangement agreed upon in advance. Parents may be consulted about monetary transactions but not allowed to handle the transaction.
- Business owners with additional booth participants or business teams and parents are required to stay informed. Event information will be posted on the Participating Families FB group page and sent via email on a regular basis to prepare for the big day. You will be invited to join the FB group upon acceptance of your application. It is your responsibility to stay informed.
- Business owners must complete the video training lessons prior to the event. There may be additional information meetings for all participants to attend via Zoom in preparation for the event.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS:
Five “Smooth Stones” – Principles to Keep in Mind:
- Wonder! There are so many opportunities here for your child to experience wonder. Allow your child the gift of wonder and creativity. Ask open-ended questions to help your child through the process.
- Industriousness! Allow your child the gift of experiencing the fruit of hard work and perseverance. Let your child create their own product or service. Provide support but please refrain from doing the work for them.
- Responsibility! Treat your child as the sole owner. Guide your child through the planning stages and have your child make the decisions as much as possible.
- Encouragement! Provide encouraging communication and let inspiration and excitement take over.
- Enthusiasm! Encourage a passion for the Children’s Business Fair and the many possibilities to look forward to! Your child's product or service could sell well beyond the fair. There are lots of children doing real business today no matter what their age. You are involving them in developing life-long skills with an entrepreneurial outlook. There's nothing better than to teach your kids self-reliance and the knowledge that they have the power to change their financial situation.
Six Warnings:
- If your child or teen is not invested in their business they will not have an ideal learning experience which is the purpose of participating in the marketplace. Parents are advised to support and encourage their child's learning but not to do the actual work for them.
- Parents may unintentionally make participating in the event too stressful. Take care to approach this endeavor with calmness and enthusiasm. Set clear boundaries and support them with the backstage organization. Then, let your child flourish! Remember this experience is for their educational benefit.
- Be sure to not make things too complicated. This is not Shark Tank or a business plan competition.
- There is great value in your child not getting everything done in time. This will help them learn. Make sure they CREATE a product or service they are excited about. Remember the parental adage that “there is a blessing in a skinned knee.”
- There is no need to focus on competitiveness. Your role in your child's endeavor is to support their ideas and help them realize what they envision. However, the business booths will be judged in categories associated with experience levels for cash prizes.
- Let your child experience the joy of hard work and even a bit of frustration. It's all part of the experience! Refrain from doing the work for your child. If the product or service looks messy, that's totally OK! Encourage your child to make an excellent product or service. Do research with your child by visiting places of business with a similar product or idea.
Remember, your child is Chairman, CEO, and owner! Have FUN, don't stress, and let their creativity soar! Let your mini-mogul SHINE!
We can't wait to see and experience the success of their hard work!
Parents may help their child complete the registration, but we expect the participants to do as much as possible on their own.
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
If you are interested in sponsoring the NEOYEM 2021 event please contact us at neoyouthmarketplace@gmail.com. Thank you!!!
