Children's Business Market aims to create future entrepreneurs  

Stepping out to be an Adventurous Achiever, Maple Leaf Parent Advisory Council (PAC) member Grace Keeling had this to say about the project she envisioned when she applied for a Western School Division Innovation Grant, receiving $2500 to create a market run by kids. 

Monday night, the Maple Leaf gym was full of people and kids interacting with customers. There were 52 vendor tables set up with 83 students taking part in the market. 

Keeling was pleased with how it turned out.  

"The market was exactly as I had imagined - a bustling hub of energy spanning across ages, cultures, and organizations. Despite the short notice, we managed to recruit 30 percent of our volunteers from Many Hands. Everyone was quick to adapt and adjust plans on the fly. I am truly amazed by the level of support and kindness shown towards one another."   

Gudiance and ELA teacher Tara Routhier, Principal Cindy Dick, PAC Grace Keeling, EAL Teacher Kerri Jerema

Maple Leaf Elementary School Principal Cindy Dick was also pleased.  

"Yes, our gym is packed. It was very, very full. It was a really good turnout between teachers and parents, and there were board members here, and the Assistant Superintendent was here, and grandmas and grandpas, and brothers and sisters, and some students from EMMS and high school kids. It was a very full gym, and it was just a buzz going around the gym, it was really fun." 

CFH Community Economic Development Operator Penny Schoonbart and CFH General Manager- Business Development, Corporate Liaison Ken Reimer

Twenty Maple Leaf students were chosen earlier this summer to take part in a five-week learning session put on in partnership with Community Futures Heartland (CFH) and Manitoba Junior Achievement (MJA). Topics like customer service, marketing, and financial literacy were taught at lunch time in these sessions.  

CFH General Manager- Business Development, Corporate Liaison Ken Reimer said he saw the training in action. 

"It was good to see all the kids. They were practicing their customer service that we taught them during the Tuesdays. And so, it was good to see them, and they were all very happy to make some money."  

From 5:00-6:00pm on Monday, kids were given the opportunity to sell products they made or items they had collected to sell in the market. Judges went around the gym tasked with finding 6 top award winners.  

Top Booth Winners Clara Cannart and Natalia Klassen

Clara Cannart and her partner won Top Booth. 

"My name is Clara and I'm selling slimes, play doughs, and Squishies. My partner is Natalia Klassen. We decided to do slime because everybody likes slime and stuff, so we were like, 'Slime was popular so we could just sell that.'" 

She explained why she enjoyed this learning opportunity. 

"I had fun because everybody like swarmed our table and I was like, 'Ok, maybe it was actually very popular.'"  

When asked if she would like to open her own business one day, she didn't hesitate.  

"Yeah, I would keep continuing it because maybe little kids would be like, 'Ohh slime.'"  

Following the event, Keeling said they met with the twenty students to gather their reactions to hear their successes and challenges in the market.  

Here's what they had to say: 

"I really liked seeing the smile on the kid's faces when I bought something." 

"I liked spending and donating money." 

"I liked seeing all the different products at the market." 

"It was hard to let go of bracelets that someone bought, but I'll just make another one." 

"Doing math is hard." 

"I was sad when people would pick up my art and then put it back down and not buy it. Or when we saw other people sell more things." 

The learning continued, according to Keeling. 

"It was an opportunity for us to teach them that disappointment or failures is a very real feeling that happens. Even though many emotions may arise, keep moving forward and try again. Reflect on what you can do differently next time." 

(Submitted photo by Grace Keeling)

There were 55 student responses to a follow-up survey: 

87 percent of students felt that the market helped them become creative or innovative. 

93 percent of students agree that they learned about business and how money works in the world. 

84 percent of students felt that one hour was enough time 

95 percent of students would join again next time.  

Dick said there are many things kids learned through this experience. 

"I think they are learning a lot about business. They're learning about how to create a business. I even talked to some kids about price points and profit margins, and they understood what I was talking about. They did the math in their head about how much it costs to buy their supplies, how much time they spend on making their product and how much they were selling their product for. So, there are a lot of skills that are being learned with this project. It's important for our kids to learn these skills going into the world, not just to be in business, but to contribute to the community, to work together, to cooperate, to problem solve, to think on their feet. There were a lot of skills they're learning through this project."  

Morden Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Clare Agnew buying a work of art from Top Wild Card Student

Community Economic Development Operator Penny Schoonbart reflected on the teaching and how it translated into action Monday. 

"We taught them how to become businesspeople, and how to handle customers, and always remember to smile, and always remember your please and thank yous, which takes them through life, not just being a businessperson. I think come 10 years from now, 15 years from now, we're going to see some new businesses start up and we're going to be with none other than these kids, because they are brilliant."  

Part of the event was giving everyone a choice to share the profits or donate to two non-profit organizations. Kids and shoppers donated $287.80 for Many Hands and $334.10 for BTHCF in one hour. Morden Area Foundation matched the donations so all together, $575.60 for Many Hands and $668.20 for BTHCF. That's a total of $1243.80 back to the community from MLES. 

Everyone was given the opportunity to give back.