Young entrepreneur business expo hosted by kids

August 25, 2018

Hope Benton,

CALABASH, NC (WWAY) — Calabash Park was busy with young entrepreneurs yesterday afternoon. The Brunswick Chamber of Commerce hosted the first Building Brunswick County Kids Expo.

It was a chance for kids to shine where no parents were allowed.

“I thought it would just be like ‘okay, there’s two or three people here. another hour, there’s about five people.’ But no, it’s going really, really fast,” said Rachel Danford, one of the vendors at the expo.

Young entrepreneurs like Danford got the chance to showcase their creativity and business skills at Building Brunswick County Kids Expo. Children ages seven to seventeen came out sell all types of homemade products, from sweet treats, jewelry.

“Their math skills are put into play. Creative thinking, customer service, communication. just looking someone straight in the eye when they’re talking to them. A good handshake. Introducing themselves. Being able to talk about their products with some knowledge,” said Robyn Beliveau, of the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce.

Beliveau says the kids are in charge of everything from the transactions, to answering customer questions. Kids like Danford never even expected their hobby to become a small business.

“My nana found the pair of Santa Claus earrings over there. And she was like ‘why don’t you just do earrings?’ and i was like ‘great, let’s do earrings and jewelry.’ and then it slowly expanded into all of this,” said Danford.

Twenty-five vendors came to the expo and Beliveau says some kids even have Facebook pages to sell their products.

“It’s just an opportunity for these kids to show what they’re made of,” said Beliveau.

It also allows them to build their confidence. And pursue their passions. no matter what age they are.

“I was like ‘it makes you look good and feel good!’ and I was like ‘there is our slogan,'” said Danford.

Beliveau says some of these kids started getting orders before the expo even started and certain vendors plan to donate all of their profits to charities around the area.