Due to expected rain, the fair is now scheduled for Sunday, October 22, 2023. Vendor applications closed on 10/10. We look forward to seeing you on 10/22.
Stratford's Children's Business Fair Stratford, Connecticut
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Date and Time
Sun, October 22, 2023.
10:00AM
- 1:00PM
Location
121 Huntington Rd, Stratford, CT 06614, USA
Apply to the fair
Ready to have the experience of a lifetime?
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, 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.
I would love to help! Support Stratford's young entrepreneurs with a financial gift. Financial gifts go towards the cost of the one-day event insurance cost, hiring the police department, snacks & drinks for the youth vendors, swag bags full of business supplies that allow the youth vendors to reinvest into their business. Financial gifts also help keep the youth vendor's registration fees affordable.
Acton Children's Business Fair Stratford, Connecticut
FAQ
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.
Even if a child does not currently have a business, they can use their already great talents to build a business and be a part of this fun event.
Watch the short and exciting video from a previous Acton Children's Business Fair on the home page. This video will provide an idea of some the creative businesses children have introduced to the fairs. It will also show how fun and rewarding the fair is for all children.
Applications 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?
We ask these questions to help the children with the understanding that these are real life elements of opening and running a business.
Is there a fee to participate?
Yes. $20.00
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?
Each business will be given a 12'x12' space (due to ever changing Covid-19 requirements, mandated by the State of Connecticut, booth distances may change).
Each business is responsible for their own supplies (table, chairs, and table covering. Tents are optional).
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, ages 6 - 16 years old, 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.
Please submit one application for each business. (Children working as a group may submit one application with all children’s info.)
There will be no competition or awards ceremony this year.
There will be NO soliciting personal/individual business sponsors for your child's product.
Selling food?
Vendors providing food that requires refrigeration are required to apply for a "Temporary Food Permit" from the Town of Stratford’s Health Department, at least 10 days before the event. You can find the permit application by going to:
The Stratford Health Department requires a fee for the Temporary Food Permit that is paid to the Health Department. The Health Department’s permits and fees are separate from the Children’s Business Fair application and fee. The Children’s Business Fair does not oversee the Health Department’s application or fee process. The Children’s Business Fair must comply with the Health Departments requirement to only allow those food vendors required to have the permit take part in the fair.
If you are a food vendor and you are unsure whether you are required to obtain a Temporary Food Permit, please call the Stratford Health Department at (203) 385-4090 or go to
What forms of payment can vendor accept? Vendors are allowed to accept any form of payment during the fair. Some vendors use mobile apps including; Square, Venmo, Cash App. Cash is always golden. So, if you are accepting cash, remember to bring change so you can provide change to your customers.
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.
Stratford, CT's Children's Business Fair follows the design and creation of the Sandefer family. Stratford's fair is a loving team effort of the Royster, Rock & Rowland family of Stratford along with the Lawson-Harris family of CT.
About
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.
We are excited to guide children in the real life experience of business development, marketing, sales and networking. We encourage this real life experience but not without some fun and the rewards of being a business owner.
Contact us
Have a question for the team at Acton's Children Business Fair
Stratford, Connecticut? Please contact us by
using the form below, and we will be in touch as soon as possible with
a reply. Thanks for your interest!
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.
