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Registration is now open for our 2nd annual PMR Children's Business Fair!
PMR Children's Business Fair
Saturday, May 3, 2025
10:00AM - 3:00PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
Do you have a creative kid? A real go-getter? That kid that can sell snakeskin boots to a snake? Then we want them to join us for our Children's Business Fair!
We're inviting kids ages 6-17 from all over southern Illinois to develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then have the opportunity to sell to the public during our one day fair. From gourmet lemonade to customized jewelry to juggling lessons to nature photography - whatever they can come up with they can do! Not only will kids get the opportunity to experience running their own business and making their own money, we'll also have competitions for best booth design, best sales pitch, most innovative/unique business, and fan favorite voting, giving your kids the chance to really show their chops.
We will host up to 30 booths at the second annual fair at The Pavilion in Marion, IL, on Saturday, May 17th. We will have a welcome ceremony at 9:00 am, be open for public selling from 10 am - 3 pm, then end our day with an awards ceremony at 3:15 pm.
This event is presented by PMR and 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.
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
Nicole Miskelley
🗓️ Started hosting in 2023
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs
We've been there - we are the entrepreneurs. For the past 11 years we've worked to build our own businesses, and now we want to encourage the youth of the area to create the next big business that'll have its start right here in our home - southern Illinois.
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.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 30 businesses. All businesses will be in a 10x10 booth space
How much is the vendor fee?
How much is the vendor fee?
Each business is a $30 vendor fee, payable once your application is accepted and sent via PayPal from Preventative Maintenance Repair, LLC. This fee helps to cover costs incurred by the fair and to help fund prizes and awards.
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 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 can I sell?
That is totally up to you! Almost anything you can think of you can sell - house plants, hula hoop lessons, self-published comic books, home decor, gluten free baked goods, you name it! We do have a few restrictions:
- Any item/service sold MUST be sold and/or performed on-site - no gift certificates, promise of future services, or anything of that kind
- All products must not be federally, state, or locally regulated and age appropriate (ie no weapons, refrigerated foods, drug paraphernalia, etc)
- Please no cooking foods on-site - any food items must be premade, packaged (in whatever packaging you choose), and labeled with any potential allergens
We do get the final say in who is accepted and who is not. If we receive an application that involved products or services that may not meet our expectations, we may reach out to verify further information and could potentially reject the application.
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. We will be mindful to not allow too many of the same item to promote variety in the event, so please be specific when submitting your application as to what you will sell.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be an indoor event with 10x10 sectioned off booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. Electricity can be provided upon request.
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. Exception will be provided to young children (ages 6-9) who need help with things like making change.
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.
