What is the Warwick Children’s Business Fair?
The Warwick Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. This one-day market gives children ages 6-16, the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
Does it cost money to enter the fair?
Yes, there is a required entry fee of $15 per business.
The entry fee is to help insure your child's commitment to this project as well as helps cover the costs associated with hosting the fair.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 30 businesses.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
Application must be submitted online. PLEASE SUBMIT ONE APPLICATION FOR EACH BUSINESS. If you have multiple children with different businesses, please fill out and submit the application for each child individually. 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?
* Please give details. Doing the math and breaking down cost of materials and how you will calculate profit is an important detail of the business building process. The following is an example of what we are looking for on applications, "I will be selling cookies for $10 a dozen. It cost me $3 in materials to make that dozen. I will have a $7 profit per dozen"
If you do not know these details yet please wait to submit your application until you have figured this out.
What if someone else has the same business idea?
As we take applicants, we will try very hard not to have too many of the same types of businesses. If we have a similar business to yours that has already applied and been accepted the team will let you know and you can decide if you want to adjust your business idea or move forward.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be set up in the Warwick community school gymnasium. Vendors will need to provide their OWN table no larger than 6 feet long. 2 chairs for each vendor will be provided. vendor will have assigned areas in the gym to set up.
Will electricity be available?
No
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. On the day of the event, if a parent / guardian is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified from the competition.
* Social media promotion on the day of the event is allowed.
Parents of younger children may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for the majority of 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.
Parents are allowed to help the children move and set up their tables as well as move product in and out of the building and to their designated set up space. We understand that young children may need help making change and that is ok but the idea here is to have the children do as much of the work as possible on their own.
*It is understood that children with diverse abilities or children with unique leaning needs may need more assistance from a parent or guardian at the event.
Children and parents are also required to clean up after themselves and remove all trash and mess associate with the business at the end of the fair.
What happens after I submit my application?
After you submit your application, it will be reviewed, and you will receive an email within a few days letting you know if you were accepted and what the next steps are, how to pay the entry fee etc.