The Young Entrepreneur Fair is coming back to New Canaan’s Pop up Park on August 27th. It is a unique to our area summer challenge for creative youth to test their business ideas.
” The fair’s value lies in the opportunity for business minded youth to interact with possible customers and observe the dynamics of the market”- said Kremena Doust, the event’s organizer. ” Last year’s participants have the chance to re-assess and develop their ideas”. Her 8 year old daughter Lorrina sums it all up. ” You can create things and gain business experience, so that if you want to start a business later, you will know the basics. If I want to take over my mom’s business when I grow up, I will not be wondering where to start from. The fair is also fun! I’m looking forward to it”
The duo put together the Young Entrepreneur Fair last year as a part of the 4 Days of family fun by the then newly formed New Canaan Parents 4 Kids. ” We got organizational help from Capucine Gooding, the founder of Juliska- a Stamford based lifestyle brand. It was a chance introduction by the Chamber of Commerce. Our partnership with the Chamber was crucial for the fun community events last year and for the Young Entrepreneur Fair this year. It allows our group to give to the community in a very simple and efficient way. It allows us to keep event participation free”
A month before the event, participants receive an advice sheet with checkpoints. It is suggested for them to make and exchange business cards. This year, a short tutorial on making a logo for their business will be included.
Amongst the different business tables, attendees will find the popular MAKE and SELL table. It gives them a taste of entrepreneurship. Materials are provided to make and sell on the spot. Radea Raleva, in picture, made a hair band, sold it and is coming back as a participant this year.
A new initiative this year is the COOP. The budding young entrepreneurs can make a few things only and share a table at the fair. A local designer- Hadley Pollet has donated swatches of collection fabrics for accessory making. From luscious to bright and cheerful, we encourage the creators to find inspiration and make. Materials are available to be picked up from the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce’s Office. Remember to call first on 203-966-2004.
“We do as we preach”- stated Kremena ” We had to be creative and repurpose materials for painting the temporary water pipes at West school and the poster making for our Drought awareness campaign this winter. We are proud to welcome to the fair this year local teenagers with charitable causes.” New Canaanopoly- a monopoly inspired game with a local twist will be pre-sold for a November launch and is
aiming to raise $25000 to benefit New Canaan Library. The Bee Foundation will offer their bee keeping services to help bring back the bees.
Apart from learning about business and giving- the young entrepreneurs are asked to donate 10% of their proceeds to charity, the event nurtures appreciation of and pride in what is made in America in our youth. Buying local acquires a new positive association for our future responsible adults. As such, the event organizers hope that the Young Entrepreneur Fair will become a valued tradition in New Canaan.
To register, go to www.ncp4k.org and follow the prompts.
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Cooper Colthup will be selling his original scrabble tile key chains. Radea Raleva in pic to the right.