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Acton Academy Lakeside Children's Business Fair
Saturday, June 10, 2023
10:00AM - 1:00PM
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About the fair
This is a rewarding and fun opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
Young people develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
We will host up to 30 booths at the 1st annual event at Acton Academy Lakeside on Saturday, June 10 from 10am to 1pm.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy Lakeside, Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our 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.
Hosted by
Nancy Dadas
🗓️ Started hosting in 2023
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs
22 booths participating
Sparkle Lemonade
Drawing to Love
And 20 others.
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. All children ages 6 to 14 are invited to participate.
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. All children ages 6 to 14 are invited to participate.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 30 businesses.
We will accept up to 30 businesses.
Where should I begin?
Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs. As a starting point, read about Bee Sweet Lemonade that started at an Acton Business Fair and ended up on Shark Tank. Once you sign up, you will receive access to a PDF of resources you can also use to hone your business skills.
Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs. As a starting point, read about Bee Sweet Lemonade that started at an Acton Business Fair and ended up on Shark Tank. Once you sign up, you will receive access to a PDF of resources you can also use 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.
Each business has a registration fee of $25. This covers table and chair rental, cash prizes ($50 to the winner, 3 categories) for the winners, and gifts for judges.
Please bring your own tent for coverage from the sun or from the rain! We recommend a tent about 10 ft x 10 ft or similar size.
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.
Each business has a registration fee of $25. This covers table and chair rental, cash prizes ($50 to the winner, 3 categories) for the winners, and gifts for judges.
Please bring your own tent for coverage from the sun or from the rain! We recommend a tent about 10 ft x 10 ft or similar size.
What is on the application?
The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:
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.
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 a tented outdoor event with booths. You will need to bring your own tent (about 10 ft x 10 ft in size). Each business will be given a booth with a 4-6 foot table and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Where should we park?
Our parking lot will not be accessible for cars the day of the event. We will have booths set up in the parking lot. Therefore, parking is at Bay Village Middle School's parking lot that you enter off of Cahoon Rd. It is a short walk (about 0.15 miles) to the market. There is reserved parking on Oakland for those that need to park closer.
Participants can temporarily park on Oakland to unload, then can move cars to Bay Village Middle School parking lot.
The fair will be a tented outdoor event with booths. You will need to bring your own tent (about 10 ft x 10 ft in size). Each business will be given a booth with a 4-6 foot table and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Where should we park?
Our parking lot will not be accessible for cars the day of the event. We will have booths set up in the parking lot. Therefore, parking is at Bay Village Middle School's parking lot that you enter off of Cahoon Rd. It is a short walk (about 0.15 miles) to the market. There is reserved parking on Oakland for those that need to park closer.
Participants can temporarily park on Oakland to unload, then can move cars to Bay Village Middle School parking lot.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
What are the rules?
All children ages 6 to 14 are invited to participate. 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.
All children ages 6 to 14 are invited to participate. 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.
What are the categories of judging?
The categories for judges to evaluate each both are:
- Most original business idea
- Best long-term business potential
- Best presentation (sales pitch, booth, branding)
Each winner will receive $50 (if multiple people on a team, that amount is split).
What are the categories of judging?
The categories for judges to evaluate each both are:
- Most original business idea
- Best long-term business potential
- Best presentation (sales pitch, booth, branding)
Each winner will receive $50 (if multiple people on a team, that amount is split).
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.
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.
