More than 40 young entrepreneurs, ages 7 to 17, participated in Dripping Springs’ first-ever Children’s Entrepreneurs Market held at the Red Arena on Sunday, October 28th. The market serves as a hands-on learning environment where children experience entrepreneurship by creating and sourcing products. , price it, advertise it, and aim to sell it.
Local market manager Andria Dowie said the program’s first event in Dripping Springs was a “huge success,” estimating at least 500 people attended. Children’s Entrepreneur Market started in 2017 with just three locations in Utah, but has since grown to include 304 markets in 170 cities and more than 40,000 youth vendors. Due to increasing demand, the marketplace will be operating in 24 states by the end of this year, providing real-world business experience for young entrepreneurs.
By providing children with a large amount of authentic interaction, the marketplace creates an environment where participants learn and earn in a competitive environment. The program also offers support resources such as video lessons, curriculum, and a blog series.
For many young entrepreneurs, the market teaches them production and planning skills to ensure a ready-to-sell product. Christopher Machado, 12, a homeschool student from South Austin, displayed 3D-printed plastic animals, keychains and fidgety toys. “It was a lot of fun, but I did it because I like making money,” Machado said, adding that each piece required hours of work and careful preparation to build up her inventory.
Jackie Monroy Carrillo decided to make dog treats for the booth, including liver treats, dried chicken treats and dog biscuits. Her friendly approach to shoppers drew visitors and even offered “human treats” to customers who weren’t purchasing pets. The market featured a wide variety of products, including handmade jewelry, art, toys, live plants, and food. One vendor was creating and selling original board games.
Children’s Entrepreneur Market fosters creativity and business thinking by challenging participants to launch a business idea and see it through to completion, even if initial results are mixed. “Those who can creatively engage with customers are the ones who make the most sales,” Dowie says. “By attending multiple events, kids have the opportunity to try different approaches, learn from other young entrepreneurs, and find out what works for them and their products. ”
Participants pay a $25 registration fee, which includes market promotion and a copy of the Entrepreneurial Curriculum. The organization also offers resources on its website and social media. “Practical experience is the best teacher, especially in a free enterprise environment like our market,” Dowie said.
Returning vendors will receive a discount for the next market, and each participant will receive a t-shirt that says “I’m an Entrepreneur.” Volunteers, primarily parents, will help with preparations for market day, including registration, set-up, and take-down. “Parents always step up and that’s a big reason why our events are so successful,” Dowie said.
There was a lot of energy as shoppers browsed the booths. Mr Dowie thanked Red Arena for its support, with volunteers helping with parking, preparation and organization. “Many parents told us they appreciated such a well-organized event,” she said.
One parent said: ‘Thank you so much. The market was well organized and the volunteers were helpful. I felt supported and it was so nice to see the children enjoying the experience.’ Comments on the market’s Facebook page were also positive, with Red Arena saying, “It was great to meet some great entrepreneurs today,” and one attendee saying, “These kids are talented. They’re very polite, knowledgeable, and great at what they do.” Kudos to this program! ”
The event was supported by sponsors including Alpha School, Angel Studios, The Draper Foundation, Food Truck League, Redmond, Yan Mou, Dan & Heidi Hartle Foundation, 1-800 Contacts, and Miner Foundation. Red Arena provided the venue.
In September, the program, with funding from donors, awarded more than $65,000 in scholarships to support children’s businesses across the country.
Children’s Entrepreneur Market returns to Dripping Springs on February 8, 2025 at the Red Arena, 2435 W. Fitzhugh Rd. Interested vendors should register early as spaces fill up quickly. For more information, please visit childrensentrepreneurmar-ket. Com.
