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2024 event was a huge success for our entreprenuers!
Joyful Maker's Market
Sunday, February 11, 2024
12:00PM - 3:00PM
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About the fair
CALLING ALL CHILDREN ENTREPRENEURS!
Joyful Makers Market is excited to host an opportunity for children entrepreneurs to create something they are proud of. This event will provide children a chance to become local business owners. They will develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and open for customers at our one-day marketplace. This event is for our children to hone their creativity, practice their business skills, and share their gifts with our community. The Makers Market instills leadership, courage, perseverance, and responsibility into young hearts and minds.
The Thurston County community thrives from our small business owners' dedication and commitment and from the consumers who choose local. We are honored to expand this network to our children, who will become one of the thousands of unsung business owners nationwide. These people sacrifice to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. Entrepreneurs are heroes and role models, and we are excited to welcome every child - willing to share their gifts with the world - into our Thurston County network of small businesses.
There is zero cost to apply. Children will keep 100% of their sales revenue.
The Thurston County community thrives from our small business owners' dedication and commitment and from the consumers who choose local. We are honored to expand this network to our children, who will become one of the thousands of unsung business owners nationwide. These people sacrifice to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. Entrepreneurs are heroes and role models, and we are excited to welcome every child - willing to share their gifts with the world - into our Thurston County network of small businesses.
There is zero cost to apply. Children will keep 100% of their sales revenue.
Hosted by
Laura Morris
🗓️ Started hosting in 2023
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs
We are parents of two daughters - whom we are confident will change the world with their gifts. Like other parents, we aim to provide opportunities for our children to be curious, active, and joyful people. We believe our children are far more capable than we've ever imagined. We wanted to bring a children's business marketplace to our community so that our children can experience entrepreneurship in an environment where it is courageous to try, safe to fail, and encouraged to be passionate.
Children will be the highlight of this event. Please review the FAQ page for details. We as parents must take a back seat at this event and allow our children to practice business skills on their own. This means allowing them to create, build, and sell the product/services with minimal intervention from us as parents. We are confident our children will flourish with the freedom, opportunity, and environment where they will be considered experts of their product/service.
Children will be the highlight of this event. Please review the FAQ page for details. We as parents must take a back seat at this event and allow our children to practice business skills on their own. This means allowing them to create, build, and sell the product/services with minimal intervention from us as parents. We are confident our children will flourish with the freedom, opportunity, and environment where they will be considered experts of their product/service.
29 booths participating
Ringo’s Paper Crafts
Arty's Earrings
And 27 others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Olympia Children’s Business Fair?
The Olympia Children Owned 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 30 businesses.
We will accept up to 30 businesses.
Does my child need to obtain a business license?
No
Where should I begin?
Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone their business skills. Watch Youtube videos on how to start a business - children focused.
No
Where should I begin?
Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone their business skills. Watch Youtube videos on how to start a business - children focused.
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.
Is there an age range/limit?
Ages: 4 years - 14 years.
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.
Is there an age range/limit?
Ages: 4 years - 14 years.
What is on the application?
The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their 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?
How will I know if my application is approved?
Applications will be approved on a first come, first serve basis. We will email the person listed on the application once we have reviewed and approved. This email will include next steps.
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 resubmit an application with a new business idea or forge-ahead with their original business plan.
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 resubmit an application with a new business idea or forge-ahead with their original business plan.
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 6 to 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.
The fair will be a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 6 to 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. Generators are not allowed.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths. Generators are not allowed.
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.
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.
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity. Judges will be invited and selected by each host.
Any parent seen selling to the customer or promoting the child’s product will result in disqualification from the competition.
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity. Judges will be invited and selected by each host.
Any parent seen selling to the customer or promoting the child’s product will result in disqualification from the competition.
How did the 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.
What is the prize for the competition?
First place prizes for three categories.
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.
What is the prize for the competition?
First place prizes for three categories.
