Children's Business Fair by The Collective
Sunday, April 12, 2026
9:00AM - 1:00PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
8th edition of the Children's Business Fair hosted by The Collective! Nested within the Lokahi Kailua Market we will host several young vendors and their businesses.
We love curating this opportunity for children to operate their very own startup business. Kids develop a brand, kids create a product or service, kids build a marketing strategy, and then kids open for customers at a real-live marketplace. There is no better way to gain experience and learn about business than by doing it!!
We love curating this opportunity for children to operate their very own startup business. Kids develop a brand, kids create a product or service, kids build a marketing strategy, and then kids open for customers at a real-live marketplace. There is no better way to gain experience and learn about business than by doing it!!
We will have booths nearby The Collective, under the covered pavillion at 340 Uluniu Street in Kailua from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
This event is hosted by The Collective Tattoo and Kailua Laser Tattoo Removal -- in partnership with the Lokahi Kailua Market, with additional sponsorship from Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Next Great Adventure, and Perfect Day Ice Cream. A modest booth fee covers execution costs.
Cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit in our youth is a foundational undertaking for the successful future of our communities. Small business owners make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve the public. This fair intends to promote and inspire the confidence of child-entrepreneurs in the community.
Hosted by
Brett Fillmore
🗓️ Started hosting in 2023
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 5.0 (4)
The Collective Tattoo, Cafe, and Gallery (407 Uluniu Street) hosts the Children's Business Fair as a way to extend business opportunities to school-age kids. Through collaboration with Lokahi Kailua Market, the fair operates within an existing market setting. Doing business right next to grown-up vendors solidifies the value of the experience. Please come by The Collective or visit us at www.thecollectivetattoocafeandgallery.com for more about our business and community activities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
Acton Children’s Business Fairs inspire 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?
Based on venue size, we estimate welcoming 6-8 businesses. Because we want to spread the opportunity to many families, returning applicants should expect to wait for final approval until about 5 weeks before the fair. We want to have at least 3-4 first-time vendors participating at each event.
Where should I begin?
Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills. Then visit The Collective website, follow us @thecollectivekailua, and be sure to come get a treat at Perfect Day Ice Cream located right inside our shop!
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.
How much is the booth fee?
A very modest booth fee will be set to help the organizers cover operational costs. Full disclosure of accounting will be available -- we are doing this so that kids grow businesses, and expressly not to make money. Accepting booth fees via PayPal after submitting your application, and cash or venmo can also be arranged separately.
How much is the booth fee?
A very modest booth fee will be set to help the organizers cover operational costs. Full disclosure of accounting will be available -- we are doing this so that kids grow businesses, and expressly not to make money. Accepting booth fees via PayPal after submitting your application, and cash or venmo can also be arranged separately.
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?
Because the fair is small, we want to avoid having two competing businesses. 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 10'x10' booths established under a large covered parking structure. Plan to provide your own tent, tables, chairs -- as if you were operating at the end of your driveway.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we do not provide electricity to the booths, as we cannot provide it to all participants uniformly.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. Active Parent/Guardian presence/participation in vendor booths goes against the spirit and intent of the fair. *I will not tell you how to parent*, but I am sure that the kids will get the most out of the experience if parents can manage to avoid being directly involved in sales operations.
Also, our fair is held as an adjunct to an existing grownup market. There will be live shoppers, and other live businesses at the event. Ideally, any sound generation or music will not interfere with adjacent businesses. Use your good judgement.
Also, our fair is held as an adjunct to an existing grownup market. There will be live shoppers, and other live businesses at the event. Ideally, any sound generation or music will not interfere with adjacent businesses. Use your good judgement.
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.
