Acton Children's Business Fair Dothan, AL event image
📣 I AM on a mission to implement activities that promote a growth mindset in our children in order to empower them to win in every area of their lives! #icanwin

Acton Children's Business Fair Dothan, AL

Saturday, July 13, 2019

12:00PM - 4:00PM

Wiregrass Commons Mall, 900 Commons Drive

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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! There is NO FEE to sign participate.

Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace. EACH BUSINESS WILL KEEP THEIR PROFITS. 

We will host 25 booths at  the Wiregrass Commons Mall on July 13, 2019 from 12:00 pm- 4:00 pm. 

This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Dr. Shelia Truelove, Author of "I Can Win!", 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

Dr Shelia Truelove

🗓️ Started hosting in 2019

🚀 Has hosted 4 fairs

Dr. Sheila Truelove holds a B.S. in Psychology, M.S. in Management, a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD), and an Alabama Professional Educators Teaching Certificate in the area of Collaborative Teaching. She has taught in the field of Special Education over 14 years. Dr. Truelove was honored as Teacher of the Year for Birmingham City Schools (2010) and nominated for a Disney Teacher of the Year award for her work in Special Education. She has served on Special Education Task committees, conducted training for parents and general education teachers, supervised graduate students majoring in Special Education, and created transitional programs for students receiving special education services. She is also a Featured Expert for a nationally known organization called, "The Life of A Single Mom." 
Dr. Truelove is a philanthropist at heart and believes in motivating and equipping others to become their very best. Dr. Truelove is the proud mother of 11 year old twin daughters and a 12 year old son.  She has spent years encouraging her children to do their very best in life. "I Can Win" is designed to develop a growth mindset mentality in our children through the use of positive declarations.  Dr. Truelove applied her beliefs in her own home. As a result, the self confidence in her children has soared. They are the co-Authors of "I Can Win!" and play a valuable role in marketing.  She prays specifically and consistently for them to achieve all that God holds for them. She believes that parents should invest in their children and treat them as the greatest commodity.  She applied to host an Acton Children's Business Fair in Dothan, Alabama because she would like to create more opportunities for youth who are interested in business.  
Visit Drtruelove.com to learn more about "I Can Win!"

18 booths participating

The lazy panda

Hollywood Sketches

And 16 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. 

How many businesses will you accept?

We will accept up to 25 businesses. Entrepreneurs must be between the ages of 6 and 17. 

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 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.

How will the fair be set up?

The fair will be inside the Wiregrass Commons Mall with tables serving as booths.  Each business will be given an 8-foot table (with a table cloth, and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will be provided by Wiregrass Mall.  We are able to accommodate businesses requiring limited electricity.

Will electricity be available?

Fortunately, we are able to provide electricity to the booths. We will need to discuss this 1:1 

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 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. Children will be allowed to keep their earned revenue. 

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. This is the 1st one to be held in Dothan, Alabama.