The Avila Beach Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. This one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.

We will accept up to 80 businesses (based on space and availability, this number could change)

Start with watching the video on our home page to see what the fair looked like the past several years and what children were selling and how it was displayed. 

Applications 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. All applications are reviewed and applicants will be notified if they are selected to participate. Applicants are selected by host based on several different criteria. Unfortunately we always receive more applications than space allows for but you will automatically be added to the waitlist if you don't get in.

RULES & GUIDELINES FOR ENTREPRENEURS:

The entrepreneur is responsible for the setup, sales and interacting with the customer. 

Age Categories: 6-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-17

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

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.

The fair will be an event with individual booths. Each business will be given a booth with an approximately 8-foot table (to share with one other business) and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths and booth business name display signs will be provided. The fair is outside in the garden area of the Avila Community Center.  No shopping bags will be provided, so if businesses want shoppers to have those, they will need to provide their own.

Will there be restrooms at the facility?
Yes, there are restrooms on the second floor of the facility

Parking?
Parking is very limited in Avila Beach. DO NOT park in the back post office parking lot. This should be only used for an unloading and loading zone for business owners when setting up and breaking down. Please park, and encourage shoppers, to park in the public pay lot. There may be some street parking available but that is also limited. 

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the majority of booths. *If you MUST have electricity, please contact us to see if we can make special arrangements but electricity is not guaranteed .

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.

Business owners are responsible for all monetary transactions.

Prizes:
There will be prizes offered to selected booths and age groups.

AWARD PROCESS & CRITERIA

 

An awards ceremony will be held immediately following the Children’s Business 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 (to be split among the business owners) will be presented at the conclusion of the fair.

 

 

Four judges will walk around the event to judge the various businesses on the following categories

·         Most Original Business Idea 

·         Highest Business Potential

·         Best Presentation / Creativity

There will be a winner in each age group and category.
All participants will be recognized with a participation certificate for participating at the fair. We will have a raffle drawing for all attendees. Prize announcements and raffle drawing are planned on being announced at the end of the fair. 

Will food or drinks be sold at the fair?
No vendor/fair sponsored food or drinks will be sold at the fair (other than those sold by children's booths as part of their fair business). We will be providing free bottle waters and popcorn to all attendees and booth participants. 

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.

*All FAQs are subject to change, if you have specific questions please direct those to kkmckiernan@gmail.com