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Applications as well as the waitlist are now closed! Please visit us at the fair to see all the wonderful entrepreneurs and join us next year as a vendor!
Acton Children's Business Fair: Homewood, IL
Saturday, August 17, 2024
10:00AM - 1:00PM
This fair has ended
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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
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 30 booths at the FIRST annual event taking place at the Homewood Science Center (18022 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL) on Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m, as part of their STEM Saturdays programming. Cost per booth is $20.
A huge thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors:
* Acton Academy, and the Acton School of Business
* Homewood Science Center
* The Village of Homewood
* Gypsy Fix
* Ink-N-Um
* Ruby Ella Sweets
* Nix Nax Activewear
* Aurelio's Pizza
* Crafty Cacciatore
* LMNT
* Acton Academy, and the Acton School of Business
* Homewood Science Center
* The Village of Homewood
* Gypsy Fix
* Ink-N-Um
* Ruby Ella Sweets
* Nix Nax Activewear
* Aurelio's Pizza
* Crafty Cacciatore
* LMNT
Hosted by
Danielle Such
🗓️ Started hosting in 2024
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 1 fair
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
28 booths participating
Charmed by Reece
Simply Sweet Treats
And 26 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.
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 accept up to 30 businesses. Local businesses to the Homewood-Flossmoor area will get first priority.
We will accept up to 30 businesses. Local businesses to the Homewood-Flossmoor area will get first priority.
Where should I begin?
Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.
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 and children must be between the ages of 6 and 14 at the time of application.
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 and children must be between the ages of 6 and 14 at the time of application.
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?
We will take great care to limit the number of businesses in specific categories so as not to have
too many similar business concepts.
We will take great care to limit the number of businesses in specific categories so as not to have
too many similar business concepts.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be an indoor event with booths, taking place adjacent to the Homewood Farmers' Market. Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table and 2 chairs. Table coverings are not provided.
The fair will be an indoor event with booths, taking place adjacent to the Homewood Farmers' Market. Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table and 2 chairs. Table coverings are not provided.
Will electricity be available?
We are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
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.
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.
All products must be created by the children; no resale or garage sale-type products are allowed.
Booths will be judged on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity, and winners from each age category will receive a cash prize.
All products must be created by the children; no resale or garage sale-type products are allowed.
Booths will be judged on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity, and winners from each age category will receive a cash prize.
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.
