📣
Application is now closed! If you are interested to volunteer and be a sponsor, please send us a message at maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com
Creative Imagination Schoolhouse Children's Business Fair
Saturday, March 25, 2023
12:30PM - 3:30PM
This fair has ended
Find another fair
About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! Join us in our annual CIS Children's Business Fair on March 25, 2023, from 12:30-3:30 pm.
Our young kid-preneurs will develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and engage with customers at our one-day business fair marketplace.
- The kids (not parents) have to do everything from idea, planning to sale. This is not a fair for parents to promote their own business.
Event registration application opens in January 2023. The deadline for booth registration waitlist (ages 5-15) when all spots are filled or no later than March 1, 2023. Space is limited so register early.
If selected, a $50 registration fee + $1.75 processing non-refundable fee is due to confirm booth registration. Your child will have one table at the fair and up to three children per table. (the fee covers event site, marketing and promotional materials.
Steps to Register and Apply:
Step 1: Fill out application form online.
Step 2: Applications received will be reviewed by the CIS Children's Business Fair Team.
Step 3: If your business is selected to participate, a welcome letter will be sent and a Paypal link to pay the $50 table/booth fee + the $1.75 processing fee.
Step 4: Once payment is complete, a confirmation email will be sent to all participating business, together with detailed information and helpful resources for the event.
This event is hosted by Creative Imagination Schoolhouse and sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our sponsors, 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.
COVID update: The fair will be indoors with a limit on the number of businesses allowed. We will adhere to the local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all attendees (vaccination, masks, social distancing, sanitizing stations, etc.).
Donations and Sponsors: If you would like to donate or sponsor our business fair event, please contact us at maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com
***If you would like to volunteer, donate, or be a sponsor email us at maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com We are seeking photographers, videographers, successful entrepreneurs as judges, marketers, help with setup and breakdown, etc.
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.
COVID update: The fair will be indoors with a limit on the number of businesses allowed. We will adhere to the local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all attendees (vaccination, masks, social distancing, sanitizing stations, etc.).
Donations and Sponsors: If you would like to donate or sponsor our business fair event, please contact us at maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com
***If you would like to volunteer, donate, or be a sponsor email us at maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com We are seeking photographers, videographers, successful entrepreneurs as judges, marketers, help with setup and breakdown, etc.
Hosted by
Maricar Abaya-Antonio
🗓️ Started hosting in 2021
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 3 fairs
At Creative Imagination Schoolhouse, we believe in nurturing the unique passions and interests of each child. We foster a learning environment where children lead their own learning journeys, guided by caring adults through group discussions, open-ended activities, and interest-based projects. We cultivate a growth mindset, empowering every child to discover their voice, passion, and joy.
We are collaborating with a dedicated community of families, local businesses, and organizations who share our vision of supporting children's entrepreneurial spirit. Together, we are making the Children's Business Fair a reality, where young entrepreneurs can showcase their creativity and business acumen.
We invite you to join our team of passionate educators, mentors, and parents in supporting this inspiring event.
36 booths participating
Lá Jawab Treats www.instagram.com/lajawabtreats
A&A Florescent Crafts
And 34 others.
Frequently asked questions
What does CIS stands for?
CIS stands for Creative Imagination Schoolhouse. We are a home based preschool / homeschool program for children ages 3 to 6 years. We are a progressive approach play based program inspired by Reggio Emilia philosophy. We strive to bring out the heart of the child and focus on SEL and Growth Mindset learning.
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
CIS stands for Creative Imagination Schoolhouse. We are a home based preschool / homeschool program for children ages 3 to 6 years. We are a progressive approach play based program inspired by Reggio Emilia philosophy. We strive to bring out the heart of the child and focus on SEL and Growth Mindset learning.
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 host up to 35 businesses at our annual Creative Imagination Schoolhouse Children's Business Fair event.
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?
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.
Where do I pay the fee to join the event?
Where do I pay the fee to join the event?
Once your business is selected, you will be sent a Paypal link to pay the $50 table/booth fee + $1.75 processing fee to confirm your business participation.
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?
Can parents help out in business ideas, plans and sales?
- The business fair is solely for and by the kids only. Parents can provide support with the application process, but are not allowed to help create the business plan or promote their own personal business or ideas. We want the children to experience the whole process of entrepreneurship.
What if someone else has the same business idea?
Two jewelry & accessories 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.
Can we sell homemade food at the fair?
Food items must be individually pre-packaged and sealed for the business fair. If and when the city ordinance change then all food items cannot be sold at the scheduled business fair.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be an indoor event. Each business will have a designated space table, and 2 chairs. Table cloths and table decors/signages are provided by each entrepreneurs (host will not provide table cloth). We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service.
Parents of younger children may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales. This event is for the children and not the parents. We want to encourage, support and inspire children as young as 5 years old to 15 years old to be young entrepreneurs.
Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves. This is how they develop their skills and talents in entrepreneurial business.
Parents of younger children may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales. This event is for the children and not the parents. We want to encourage, support and inspire children as young as 5 years old to 15 years old to be young entrepreneurs.
Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves. This is how they develop their skills and talents in entrepreneurial business.
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.
