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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS AND VOLUNTEERS:
KAYLYN LLC dba CREATIVE MIND DAY PROGRAM, PICAGGO, LINDEN TREE, CHEEKY MONKEY, HOPPITY LEARNING, BEYOND THE BOX LEARNING AND STARBUCKS LOS ALTOS, RHOEL & KRISTINE ABAYA FOR THEIR SUPPORT & DONATIONS.
CIS Children's Business Fair
Sunday, March 17, 2024
1:30PM - 3:30PM
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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 in 2024.
We are looking for young entrepreneurs with creative business ideas, who loves to create, make, build and innovate to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and skills. If that is you, come join us and let's have some fun!
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 coming up with a business idea, marketing sales strategy, advertising and sales goal. This is not a fair for parents to promote their own business and or sell store bought products. All goods and services for each businesses must be made from scratch; not resalable or store bought items.
If selected, a $50 registration fee + $2.30 processing fee (non-refundable) is due within 24 hours upon receiving event acceptance email 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: Complete application form online. *Must submit a photo of your business idea and products.
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 link to pay the 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 limited number of businesses allowed. We will adhere to the local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all attendees masks is greatly encouraged for everyone participating and attending.
We welcome donations and sponsors: If you, your business or company would like to partner with us and donate to or help sponsor our business fair event.
In return, we will add your name and/or businesses to our promotional and marketing materials. There are also opportunities for sponsor tables/booth. Please email us at maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com for more information.
*** We are also looking for volunteers to join our team to help promote our event!
- volunteer leaders
- set-up and tear-down tasks
- parking assistant
- registration table
- ushers
- photographer
- floater
All inquiries for donation, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please email us at: maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com
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 limited number of businesses allowed. We will adhere to the local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all attendees masks is greatly encouraged for everyone participating and attending.
We welcome donations and sponsors: If you, your business or company would like to partner with us and donate to or help sponsor our business fair event.
In return, we will add your name and/or businesses to our promotional and marketing materials. There are also opportunities for sponsor tables/booth. Please email us at maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com for more information.
*** We are also looking for volunteers to join our team to help promote our event!
- volunteer leaders
- set-up and tear-down tasks
- parking assistant
- registration table
- ushers
- photographer
- floater
All inquiries for donation, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please email us at: maricar@creativeimaginationschoolhouse.com
Hosted by
Maricar Abaya-Antonio
🗓️ Started hosting in 2021
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 4 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.
25 booths participating
The Great Surprises! (By Johanna, Mayleen and Leilani)
Stickyprints
And 23 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 Social Emotional Learning 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 Social Emotional Learning 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 25 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 category business (arts n crafts, food, themed product or service). Children working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business. Only one kind of business type.
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 payment link 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 only provide table and chairs). 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 opportunity to experience a one day market for their business idea.
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.
