Young Entrepreneurs Prepare for Friday’s Market

Written by admin on 17 August 2016

2016 BizKids entrepreneurs take a break at the waterfront after visiting local business owner Jim Moffat at his retail outlet 2 Doors Down. Photo by Denika Jomphe

MANITOUWADGE, ON – It’s that time again when Manitouwadge shoppers are treated to new, creative, innovative and delicious products from the young entrepreneurs participating in the Biz Kids program.

The program offered by the Township of Manitouwadge and organized/hosted by Community Programmer Shawna Patterson, the program welcomes youth ages 9 to 12 years to a week long business camp during which they learn about bringing a product they create to market. Tuesday the youth visited long time local business owner Jim Moffatt at his retail store 2 Doors Down. Moffat spoke to the kids about some of the challenges and benefits of becoming a business owner. Participants also discussed the work and overtime involved in being your own boss.

The kids returned downtown Wednesday to evaluate business’s signs and storefront information prior to making their own posters. Among the things they noted were the importance of signs being legible, including important/relevant information and how one salon had been clever in using a dry erase board in their window signage allowing the flexibility to easily update information ensuring it was accurate.

The young entrepreneurs learned about many other aspects of local and small businesses as these related to selling their own products and starting a successful business. Activities, challenges and games helped participants to decide on the product or products they would sell, create their business plans, plan and develop advertising and much more ensuring they would be well prepared for Friday’s Market Day.

The public is invited to attend the Market from 11:30am to 1pm at the township parking lot (rain location: Council Chambers) and shop the great variety of products the kids have worked diligently t to prepare. Among the available products being offered to shoppers are Mini Donuts, Truffles, Beaded Jewellery, Yard Yatzee Sets, Oil Paintings, Fire Art and more!

Congratulations to the 2016 BizKids on their entrepreneurship and efforts, wishing you all great success on Friday!

: Community Programmer Shawna Patterson shares details of the “Tower Challenge” in which the kids are provided a set budget from which they must purchase supplies to build a tower on which they need to balance a plastic egg. For those whose towers were still standing Wednesday, their would be tests to determine which team had built the strongest and tallest tower.