Acton Children's Business Fair Naples, FL
Saturday, October 20, 2018
10:00AM - 2:00AM
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About the fair
The Children’s Business Fair will offer the opportunity for young entrepreneurs, ages 6-17, to showcase and sell their product or service to the public. Working with the Chamber, children will learn free-market principles, how the workforce drives the local economy and relish in the rewards of their hard work. The Naples Chamber will work with participants post-event to help continue their professional growth, connect them with business leaders and provide support on their entrepreneurial journey.
For more information or to register now visit: http://www.napleschamber.org/childrensbusinessfair.html
For more information or to register now visit: http://www.napleschamber.org/childrensbusinessfair.html
Hosted by
Alex Breault
🗓️ Started hosting in 2018
🚀 Has hosted 4 fairs
What is the Children’s Business Fair?
The Children’s Business Fair is the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America. The one-day Business Fair is a culmination of ideas and hard work from great young minds. Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace. Experience young minds marketing, selling, counting money and feeling accomplished!
What is the process?
Young entrepreneurs first make an important decision: they hire themselves! Then they bring their parents or guardians to attend an Orientation Event to learn more. At the Orientation Event, they learn about the simple application process. They apply, and then begin to launch a product or service. The children plan their business at every level: product, service, marketing, accounting, cost of goods, pricing, etc. And in this process, they learn a sense of wonder, the importance of hard work, taking responsibility, and gaining confidence in the next challenge.
Young entrepreneurs first make an important decision: they hire themselves! Then they bring their parents or guardians to attend an Orientation Event to learn more. At the Orientation Event, they learn about the simple application process. They apply, and then begin to launch a product or service. The children plan their business at every level: product, service, marketing, accounting, cost of goods, pricing, etc. And in this process, they learn a sense of wonder, the importance of hard work, taking responsibility, and gaining confidence in the next challenge.
General Information
- Vendor entry fee is $15 per business which will be paid at the time of registration. This is to reserve the entrepreneur’s spot at the fair and hold them accountable to attend, as spots are limited. If there is a hardship circumstance, please inquire within at 239-403-2909 for possible assistance.
- Please note that you may help your child fill out the application, depending on their age, please promote that they complete as much as possible on their own.
- We will attempt limit the number of businesses in specific categories, so you will have the most profitable experience possible. This will be determined on a first come, first serve basis.
- All entries will be automatically entered in the business competitions:
-Booths will be voted on by fellow entrepreneurs and attendees in 3 contests: Most Original Business Idea, Highest Business Potential, and Most Creative Presentation.
-Booths will also be judged by the “Judges Panel” for First, Second and Third Place overall awards within each the FIVE age categories: Ages 6-7, 8-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-17. Awards will be presented at the end of the fair approximately 1:45PM. - Applicants must be between the ages of 6 - 17 on or before the DATE OF THE EVENT.
- Electricity is extremely limited. If power is necessary, please request in advance. First come first serve. No generators are permitted.
- No animals are permitted. No open flames are permitted.
- Each booth consists of one (1) 6-foot table and 2 chairs. Tents are permitted but not provided. Extra chairs, tables, signage, are permitted, however we ask that you please be considerate of your space and do not impose on your neighbor.
- No more than 4 participants per booth/business. Wrist bands for identification of vendors will be provided at registration. (please provide names/info on application)
- Parents of younger children may sit in their booth, but the children are to be responsible for the setup, sales and interacting with the customers.
- This event is designed to give children a taste of selling a product. Please let them have that experience.
- Any parent seen selling to the customer or promoting the child’s product will result in disqualification from the competition.
Setup & Teardown
• Set up will begin at 7:30AM and must be complete by 9:30AM. Please be considerate of the other vendors as well when you are dropping off/loading in.
· Do not begin to teardown your booth until 2:00PM. The fair is open to the public and will run until 2:00PM. Awards will begin around 1:45PM and teardown can begin at the end of the awards presentation.
· Please be sure to clean up all of your items, trash, and leave the space as it was when you arrived.
“Parent Partner”
- Parents tend to make children’s events too stressful. What is needed from parents are clear boundaries and backstage organization. Then, let the children flourish. This is not about you, it is about the child.
- Parents can make children’s events too complicated. This is not Shark Tank or a business plan competition. You do not need business plans with five-year projections.
- Parents tend to get ahead of their children in passion. 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 blessing in a skinned knee.”
- Parents tend to get ahead of children in competitiveness. Your role is not to be dictator, a business school professor, or a venture capitalist.
- Parents tend to rob children of the joy of hard work. Do not do the work for the children. If the product or service looks messy, that is ok; in fact, that is great! Encourage your children to make a good product or service, but never take the role of a business board, manager or owner. Do not rob the work environment of joy by prodding or criticizing. You child is Chairman, CEO, and owner. Let your child be those things.
Be the Cheerleader
· Wonder
There are so many opportunities. Allow your child the gift of wonder. Ask open-ended questions.
There are so many opportunities. Allow your child the gift of wonder. Ask open-ended questions.
· Industriousness
Allow your child the gift of seeing the fruit of hard work.
Allow your child the gift of seeing the fruit of hard work.
· Responsibility
Treat your child as the sole owner. Let the child make the plans and the decisions as much as possible.
Treat your child as the sole owner. Let the child make the plans and the decisions as much as possible.
· Encouragement
Provide encouraging communication.
Provide encouraging communication.
· Enthusiasm
Provide passion for the Children’s Business Fair.
Provide passion for the Children’s Business Fair.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The 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 approximately 150 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 be an outdoor event held in the courtyard area at Gulf Coast High School with booths for the vendors. Each business will be given an 8-foot table and 2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided.
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.
To view a list of detailed rules please visit www.napleschamber.org/cbf
How did the original 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
To become a sponsor of the Naples Children's Business Fair please click the link for the sponsor packet: https://www.napleschamber.org/uploads/9/3/6/9/93695694/2018cbf_sponsorpacket.pdf
Or contact Nikkie Dvorchak at 239-403-2909 or nikkie@napleschamber.org
Or contact Nikkie Dvorchak at 239-403-2909 or nikkie@napleschamber.org
