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Executive Sponsors: John William Pope Foundation, John Locke Foundation, Kane Realty Corporation, Larry Robbins. Partner Sponsors: Rising Innovator
Acton Children's Business Fair Raleigh, NC
Saturday, October 6, 2018
3:00PM - 5:00PM
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About the fair
Support young entrepreneurs at the third annual Raleigh Children's Business Fair!
Kids 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 40 booths at the annual event, located at The Commons at North Hills, on Saturday, October 6 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
After we receive your application, we will review it and send you an email confirming receipt. If your application is accepted, we will send you an email with further information. We require a $20 fee for accepted booth applications that will be returned on the day of the fair. Refunds will not be showed to no-shows and cancellations the week of the fair. We expect high interest in the fair and will create a waiting list. Do not assume your application is accepted until you hear from us.
After we receive your application, we will review it and send you an email confirming receipt. If your application is accepted, we will send you an email with further information. We require a $20 fee for accepted booth applications that will be returned on the day of the fair. Refunds will not be showed to no-shows and cancellations the week of the fair. We expect high interest in the fair and will create a waiting list. Do not assume your application is accepted until you hear from us.
This event is sponsored by 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. Entrepreneurs make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
Come out to the Raleigh Children's Business Fair and you just may find a child selling that item you didn't know you needed, but can't live without!
We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation. Entrepreneurs make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
Come out to the Raleigh Children's Business Fair and you just may find a child selling that item you didn't know you needed, but can't live without!
Hosted by
Lindsay Hollandsworth
🗓️ Started hosting in 2017
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 3.9 (11)
The John William Pope Foundation is a private family foundation, located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Lifetime entrepreneur John William Pope and his family established the Pope Foundation in 1986. Mr. Pope was the owner of Variety Wholesalers, Inc., the parent company for stores that include Roses and Maxway. Mr. Pope knew how rewarding entrepreneurship could be and was passionate about creating opportunities for young people. Today, the Foundation makes grants to nonprofits (including many in the Triangle region) that help create opportunity for all. The mission of the Children’s Business Fair, to open children to new opportunities personally and academically, resonated with the Foundation. They knew they had to bring the fair to Raleigh! The Foundation is partnering with community businesses to bring the fair to Raleigh children at no cost.
39 booths participating
Emily's Craft Stop
Cutie Patootie Earrings/ Lee’s Leather
And 37 others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires ch ildren 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 40 businesses.
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 a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with a 6-foot table (to share with one other business), a 10'x10' tent, and 1 chair. 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.
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.
