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Calling all YOUNG BUSINESS LEADERS ages 7-16! Sign up today to participate in the Harford County Children's Business Fair! June 8, 2019 from 10am - 1pm. Application Deadline May 24, 2019.
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Calling all YOUNG BUSINESS LEADERS ages 7-16! Sign up today to participate in the Harford County Children's Business Fair! June 8, 2019 from 10am - 1pm. Application Deadline May 24, 2019.
The Harford County Children's Business Fairs give kids the opportunity to be entrepreneurs -- boosting their confidence, teaching valuable lessons, and giving them an experience they will never forget.
Come support local children as they launch their very own startup business! Young people, ages 7-16, develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and put their ideas into practice at our one-day marketplace.
What: Harford County 2nd Annual Children's Business Fair Who: Young people from 7-16 yrs. old When: June 8th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Where: Freedom Church 1705 Conowingo Rd. Bel Air, MD 21014)
Set-up for participants will begin at 9 a.m. The Fair will open to the public at 10 a.m.
The competition will be judged by local business leaders and small prizes will be awarded. The age groups will be grouped as follows: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-16. Prizes awarded for The Most Original Business, The Highest Business Potential, and The Best Presentation. In each age group, there will be three awards. All participants will receive a certificate for participation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey or 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.
Liberty Leadership, Acton Academy, and the Acton School of Business are proud to sponsor this event. Freedom Church has been especially gracious in allowing use of their facilities for the HCCBF and home to Liberty Leadership. As always, we are incredibly grateful for the generous support of our volunteers.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available. Please contact Donna Lucas at 443-797-9438.
Hosted by
Robert Orlando
🗓️ Started hosting in 2019
🚀
Has hosted
2 fairs
The Harford County Children's Business Fair (HCCBF) is meant to spark young people's entrepreneurial curiosity and spirit. The HCCBF is part of the Acton Children's Business Fair, the largest entrepreneurship event for children in North America. Children have the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses at the HCCBF.
Children ages 7 to 16 are invited to create a product or service to sell to customers at our one-day marketplace. Prizes will be awarded for the best businesses by age and category.
Past businesses have included:
Homemade healthy dog biscuits by the Independent Duck
Hot chocolate stand by N.A.B. Hot Chocolates
Organic bath and salt scrubs by Karissa's Relaxation Creations- a portion of the proceeds went directly to the Front Row Foundation
Simplee Potty Pods by Lorra
Beauty products by The Crafty Panda
Handmade candles from The Happy Candle Kid- 10% of all profits went to The Fallston Animal Rescue (FARM).
The possibilities are limited only to what children can create! Originally started in Austin, Texas, the Acton Children's Business Fair has expanded to cities including Chicago, Phoenix, Grand Rapids, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
If you don't have a child participating in the event, please come support local children, our communities future business leaders.
Judges
To be Announced
Take a look at one of our local entrepreneurs...
'The Happy Candle Kid' is more than a company owned and operated by a 9-year-old boy. 'The Happy Candle Kid' is about more than just buying unique materials, creating hand-made, collectible candles, and directly selling his products to customers. Ethan’s 'The Happy Candle Kid' business created an opportunity for him to explore his passion and allows him to donate 10% of his proceeds to help save animals' lives at the Fallston Animal Rescue Movement (FARM) in Fallston, MD.
Ethan's business got off the ground after his learning community was exploring E-ship (Entrepreneurship), by traveling to "islands": Motivation Island, Market Island, Identity Island, Unit Economics Island, Hiring Island, and Competition & Substitute Island. At Liberty Leadership, learners created a product, wrote a business plan, developed a brand, and pitched their products in a "Shark Tank" Q&A in front of parents and local business owners. The young entrepreneurs sold their products at the 1st Children's Business Fair in Bel Air, MD on November 17, 2018.
Ethan designed his logos, signs, displays, and location of his booth. At his first Children’s Business Fair, he was very successful. He sold-out of his candles and took requests for additional candle orders. Currently, Ethan's business is still thriving. He is negotiating with local businesses to get his product into the market and continues to develop his product sales through 'The Happy Candle Kid' website, craft shows, and word of mouth.
Ethan's interview: "When I tell adults about my business, they say, 'Maybe you could have a business one day'. My response is: 'Why not today!' I have fun and work hard to personally select collectible teacups from around the world. I research the history of my teacups. I help to save and recycle these teacups that have survived sometimes a 70-80 year existence, that may be destined to either break, be thrown away or dropped off at a local thrift store. I add soy wax, color, and scent into the hand-selected teacups and breathe life back into them.
My candles become center stage again! Customers get to enjoy these artisan pieces designed by me. I hope that my success in this business opens everyone's eyes that at any age, you can have a dream and be successful."
Don't miss Ethan's products at the 2nd Annual Harford County Children's Business Fair on June 8, 2019!
What is the Harford County Children’s Business Fair (HCCBF)?
The HCCBF empowers children to discover their inner entrepreneur. As part of the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives young people the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
How many businesses are currently being accepted?
50
Where should I begin?
Submit your online application. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.
Only 1 application per business along with a 30-second video describing your business emailed to Donna.Lucas@actonbelair.org.
Business and applicants names are included in the clip attachment.
Children working as a group should submit one application that includes each individual's information.
Maximum of 3 entrepreneurs 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 cupcake businesses? Not a problem. Generally, market forces play out to create an authentic experience.
If another applicants have similar ideas, the later entrant is notified and can decide what they want to do.
Will the HCCBF be inside or outside?
The Fair will be outdoors, weather permitting.
If it rains or is too windy, the Fair will be moved indoors.
What does my business need to bring?
Any materials required to create a display and sales counter, including all tables, chairs and canopy.
HCCBF does not provide any of the above.
How much space does my business have?
Each 10' x 10' space is a blank canvas for young entrepreneurs to create their merchandising area.
Will electricity be available?
Yes, but it is very limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Will my business need money to start the day of the fair?
Yes. Open your business with around $50-$75 (in 1's and 5's) in your cash box. Some past participants set-up Venmo and PayPal accounts to accept payments.
If your business decides to accept electronic payments, a cell phone is required. Young entrepreneurs should know how to use all payment methods on the day of the Fair.
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 are responsible for set-up, customer interaction, and sales.
Parents may assist their child while they fill-out the application, but the children must do as much as possible independently.
What cannot be sold?
The Harford County Health Department prohibits the sale of the following foods at the HCCBF:
Cream Éclairs
Cream Puffs
Cakes or Pies that contain perishable fillings (i.e. cream, cream cheese, egg, pudding, pumpkin, sweet potato or meat)
Home canned/processed food items
Dairy products such as milk, cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, or butter
Cut melons
Icings for cakes made with eggs or dairy products (i.e. milk or cream).
What food items are allowed?
The following food items are permitted:
Cookies, bars and brownies
Bread or buns
Sweet dough bakery items (i.e. doughnuts)
Fruit pies
Jellyrolls
Cakes or cupcakes
Popcorn
Confections
Prepackaged foods such as granola bars or juice boxes
Trail mixes.
If your business is selling food items that need to be served and placed into containers, bring multiple utensils for serving in case one is dropped or gets dirty. Facilities are provided to wash hands and utensils.
How did the Acton Children’s Business Fair get started?
Jeff and Laura Sandefer alongside a few other families sought 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 7 entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees. Now, there are over 115 entrepreneurs and 1,500 attendees at the Acton Children's Business Fair in Austin.
The Acton Children's Business Fair does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin and admits and gives all hosts and participants access to the same rights, privileges, programs and activities.
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