EAGLE RIVER, Wis. (WJFW) – Starting a business can be hard work, but one local community is making it easier for young entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses. The Eagle River Revitalization Program is hosting a Youth Entrepreneur Market where kids can showcase their ideas. Over the summer, many kids had the opportunity to present their business ideas. Karen Margelofsky, executive director of the Eagle River Revitalization Program, said they hosted three markets this summer.
“They were all a great success. Each market had about 20 young entrepreneurs attend, with hopes of one more joining,” Margelovski said.
The young people participating are middle and high school students between the ages of 10 and 17. Margelovsky noted that they run all kinds of businesses.
“There’s a lot of creativity and kids are becoming more and more inventive. We sell custom sugar scrubs in a variety of flavors and a lot of the kids are multi-talented. Not only are they making the sugar scrubs, they’re also designing art so they’re artists too,” Margerowski said.
Other ventures include woodworking, custom golf balls and 3D printed products. Margelovski said this opportunity is critical to the future of Eagle River businesses.
“If you want your community to thrive, you have to work with young people. The same goes for our business. If you want your community to be strong, whether they stay here or go elsewhere, that’s a great contribution to society,” Margerowski said.
While the event allows kids to showcase their ideas, Margerowski said they added “Plaidurday,” a national day to wear plaid, to the event to get more community members involved.
“And I really liked the theme of stitching people together piece by piece, bringing the community together, and I wanted to teach them that they are part of a larger community,” Margerowski said.
If you’re interested, come along to the Young Entrepreneurs Market at Eagle River’s City Square on October 4th from 3-6pm.
