Acton Children's Business Fair Wilmington, NC
Saturday, May 4, 2019
11:00AM - 3:00AM
This fair has ended
Youth ages 6 to 17 years old will have the opportunity to launch their very own startup business and showcase it to their family, friends, and community!
They will develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
Applications are due by April 20, 2019 by 11:59 p.m. Applicants will be notified within 3 - 5 business days of submitting their application whether or not their application have been approved. The entrepreneurial investment fee for all approved kid-entrepreneurs is $25.00 per business and is non-refundable. This fee will include a t-shirt which can be worn at the event. Fees must be paid within three (3) business days.
Once your application is approved, you will be provided a link in which the $25 registration fee can be paid. Payment confirms your vendor table.
Each participant will receive a certificate of participation for being a part of the Wilmington Children's Business Fair.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, S & J Concierge Services and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Make sure you invite your family, friends, and community to come out to support your business at the fair. We never know which one of you budding business owners will be on Good Morning America!!!
Bernice Johnson
🗓️ Started hosting in 2019
🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs
Frequently asked questions
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.
We will accept 25 - 30 businesses.
Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.
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.
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?
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.
The fair will be a indoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 6-foot table and 1-2 chairs. Tablecloths will not be provided.
Electricity is extremely limited. If power is necessary, please request in advance. First come first serve. No generators are permitted.
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service.
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.
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.
