Entrepreneur’s from 6-16 Years Old Welcome to Compete
Stratford’s Children’s Business Fair Applications Now Being Accepted
Fair Date will be: Saturday, October 22nd 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Paradise Green, 121 Huntington Road
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.
Sponsored by the Acton School of Business, a school for entrepreneurship located in Austin, Texas, the Children’s Business Fair provides 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.
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.
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.
Booth applications are NOW open! To get a better feel of the event there is a short 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.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
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.
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?
These questions are designed 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. $15.00
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).
Electricity will not be available.
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.)
How Is Competition Judged?
The competition will be judged in the following THREE age categories:
Ages 6-9, 10-12, and 13-16.
If children of different age groups prepare a booth together, they will be judged in the age group of the oldest participant.
There will be NO soliciting personal/individual business sponsors for your child’s product.
Are You 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 by clicking on the link:
Town of Stratford’s Temporary Food Permit.pdf 230.94 KB
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 Acton Children’s Business Fair application and fee. The Acton Children’s Business Fair does not oversee the Health Department’s application or fee process. However, the Acton Children’s Business Fair must comply with the Health Departments requirement to only allow those 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: Town of Stratford’s Temp Food Guide.pdf 1.08 MB
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.
There are photos of last year’s Stratford Children’s Business Fair on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StratfordsChildrensBusinessFair
For more information and the on-line application to participate go to: https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/stratford-connecticut
