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Children's Business Fair @ Memorial City Mall
Saturday, April 22, 2023
10:00AM - 2:00PM
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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! Join us at Memorial City Mall on April 30th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to see these young entrepreneurs in action!
Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged by fellow entrepreneurs on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity. Cash prizes of $50 per category and age group 6-7, 8-10, 11-12, and 13-14 (to be split among the business owners) will be presented at the conclusion of the fair.
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged by fellow entrepreneurs on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity. Cash prizes of $50 per category and age group 6-7, 8-10, 11-12, and 13-14 (to be split among the business owners) will be presented at the conclusion of the fair.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Next Great Adventure, Lerner Realty Solutions (The LRS Team), RLD Bookkeeping & Tax Solutions, Business Spirit Promotional Products & Wearables, The Pound Cake & more, Amy Polak with Entre Results, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. A special shout out to Lemonade Day Houston for their support too! 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.
***All program applications accepted and reviewed by April 22, 2022 will need to be accompanied by a $50 program entry fee per business. No refunds; no exceptions. A table and 1-2 chairs will be provided for each business. Weekly business coach Zoom calls and a session with Memorial City Mall's Visual Merchandising Expert will be available for program participants as well.***
***TO SPONSOR, VISIT THIS LINK.***
***All program applications accepted and reviewed by April 22, 2022 will need to be accompanied by a $50 program entry fee per business. No refunds; no exceptions. A table and 1-2 chairs will be provided for each business. Weekly business coach Zoom calls and a session with Memorial City Mall's Visual Merchandising Expert will be available for program participants as well.***
***TO SPONSOR, VISIT THIS LINK.***
Hosted by
Natalie Lerner
🗓️ Started hosting in 2021
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs
The Children's Business Fair @ Memorial City Mall is spearheaded by Natalie Lerner, a passionate mom, wife, realtor, director, actor, and event producer who simply wants her kids and the next generation to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way. There are so many opportunities for our kids these days, and this fair is just one step towards helping our kids find their 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 50 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?
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 take place indoors in the Dillards wing of Memorial City Mall. Each business will be given a booth with a 6-foot table (to share with one other business) and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths. If you require this, please call 281-300-9656.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. If a parent is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified from the competition.
Parents of younger children may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, 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.
