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We currently have a waitlist to participate in the fair. Submit a CONTACT form to be added to the waitlist and we will contact you if there is an opening.
Acton Children's Business Fair Arlington, VA
Saturday, November 10, 2018
10:00AM - 1:00AM
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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
Kids, ages 6-14, 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 24 businesses at the 1st annual event at Market Common Clarendon on Saturday, November 10, 2018 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
This event is sponsored by The Village School, 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
Meredith Carlton
🗓️ Started hosting in 2018
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 5.0 (2)
WHO WE ARE
The Village School: An Acton Academy is hosting this event for local young entrepreneurs. We are a team of passionate teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
To learn more about The Village School, visit https://www.villageschoolnova.org/.
BUSINESS FAIR DETAILS
The Children's Business Fair is a one-day market for children, ages 6-14, to showcase their very own business. Each business will apply online, informing the fair volunteers of their business plan. This is an opportunity for the children to learn about business and entrepreneurship, so we stress the importance of allowing the children to make decisions about their business, and to do as much of the work on their own as possible.
On the day of the event, each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table to share with one other business to set up their products and displays. The fair will open to the public from 10:00am-1:00pm.
During the fair, judges will observe the businesses, and interview the children running businesses. Prizes will be awarded to the best businesses by age and category.
The Village School: An Acton Academy is hosting this event for local young entrepreneurs. We are a team of passionate teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
To learn more about The Village School, visit https://www.villageschoolnova.org/.
BUSINESS FAIR DETAILS
The Children's Business Fair is a one-day market for children, ages 6-14, to showcase their very own business. Each business will apply online, informing the fair volunteers of their business plan. This is an opportunity for the children to learn about business and entrepreneurship, so we stress the importance of allowing the children to make decisions about their business, and to do as much of the work on their own as possible.
On the day of the event, each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table to share with one other business to set up their products and displays. The fair will open to the public from 10:00am-1:00pm.
During the fair, judges will observe the businesses, and interview the children running businesses. Prizes will be awarded to the best businesses by age and category.
14 booths participating
Dinkra Stylez
B.E.beachy
And 12 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. This event is part of the largest entrepreneurship movement for kids in North America, which gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses at a one-day market.
How old do I have to be to participate?
Participants must be ages 6-14 on the date of the fair.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 24 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?
Applications, along with a $20 application fee, 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 t-shirt 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 with booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table (to share with one other business), and 1-2 chairs. 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.
Our incredible sponsors
Thank you to Market Common Clarendon for providing the space for this event!
