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There were 11 vendors at the Children's Business Fair. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)
making money

Children’s Business Fair instilling entrepreneurship skills in youth

Aug 24, 2019 | 2:02 PM

The development of entrepreneurship skills was one of the main goals of the inaugural Children’s Business Fair hosted Saturday by Visions North.

“We need more people to enhance our community and they are our future,” said Visions North Administrative Assistant Brooke Ratt. “Our community needs more inventors. I think it’s important just to get a head start thinking about entrepreneurship.”

In all, 11 businesses consisting of 13 participants took part in the event held at the Lutheran Fellowship Church in La Ronge. There were a number of products and services for sale such as a photo booth, eco-friendly dog toys and treats, homemade lip balm and healing lotions, soap bars, cold drinks, toys, paintings, artwork, beadwork and baked goods. Ratt noted all the businesses, with the exception of one from Prince Albert, were from the tri-communities.

She also noted all the children who participated in the fair had a lot of fun and the kids had spent days getting ready for it.

“Their parents have said they’ve been really busy making their products, and some of them were up late last night baking and just doing last minute touches,” Ratt said.

Melanie Mack had three children participate in the event with their own individual businesses. Alina sold beadwork of butterflies, bees, rings and earrings, while Jozelle sold homemade slime and lemonade, while Serenity had baked goods on offer. Serenity in particular was raising funds as part of a Compassion Canada fundraiser to assist mothers and babies in Nicaragua.

“I think it gets them thinking about various aspects of business that they wouldn’t think of normally like calculating what their costs are, what their profits are, how to make money, how to interact with the public and having confidence promoting their products,” Mack said of the fair.

derek.cornet