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PLEASE READ THIS: Please complete our official application using the link below. If you complete the application on this current site instead of our official application, you will end up filling out an application twice. Click following link for our official MBCBF application: https://bizsavvykids.org/mbcbfapplication/
Metro Birmingham Children's Business Fair
Saturday, April 18, 2020
1:00PM - 4:00PM
This fair has ended
Find another fair
About the fair
Our official applications is here.
Two years later and we are still going strong. On April 18, 2020, the Metro Birmingham Children’s Business Fair will hold its 5th fair at the Downtown YMCA Youth Center (2400 7th Avenue N, Birmingham, AL 35203).
Two years later and we are still going strong. On April 18, 2020, the Metro Birmingham Children’s Business Fair will hold its 5th fair at the Downtown YMCA Youth Center (2400 7th Avenue N, Birmingham, AL 35203).
As we are gearing up for the April fair, people may be wondering what our key to success is. It’s really very simple: the kids. When we started the fair in 2017 we knew that if we let kids be free to create using their own imaginations that they would mobilize and delightfully be energized to create something of their very own and we were right. Since our inception we have had well over 120 kids participate in the fair.
The Metro Birmingham Children’s Business Fair offers kids an entrepreneurial experience and avenue designed with them in mind. We give them the educational tools and resources to succeed by way of our recently established (Nov 2019) Youth Entrepreneurship Training Workshops. Kids that attend the workshops will be prepared to speak confidently and effectively with consumers, they will have their elevator pitch down to a science, they learn to always be prepared to tell others about what they do, and how they were inspired to do it. Thus far we have had workshops on the following topics: financial literacy, public relations, dressing for success, writing a bio, public speaking and our last workshop before the fair is titled “Let’s Become Authors.”
In the past, we have had as many as 400 consumers attend a single fair to shop with our biz savvy kids. We take surveys after every event and the public, to date, has not been disappointed. They tell us they are blown away by the kids.
The fair is open to kids ages 6 to 16 and we are still accepting applications at https://bizsavvykids.org/mbcbfapplication/. In order to limit the number of like products at the fair, we are no longer accepting: food items, popular boys and girl’s bracelets (silicone, rubber band, braided, etc., bath bombs). More exclusions may be added as applications continue to increase.
Free tickets for youth to attend our Youth Entrepreneurship Training Workshops can be found on EventBrite as well as free consumer tickets to attend the fair. Sign your kids up are tell a friend with kids about this opportunity. Whether you have kids or not be sure to come and support our young entrepreneurs.
Hosted by
Charita Cadenhead
🗓️ Started hosting in 2017
🚀 Has hosted 7 fairs
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
1 booth participating
I Am by Davy B
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 36 businesses.
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 a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table (to share with one other business), full-cover tenting, and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
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.
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.
