The skills of the business world translate to so many parts of life – risk and reward, weighing cost against profit, and finding more efficient ways to do things, just to name a few. Becoming acquainted with these concepts early on, then, can lead to positive things.
That’s the idea behind the upcoming “Kidpreneur” Christmas Market event that Des Allemands First Assembly of God Church will host this holiday season. On Dec. 7, children signed up for the event will present their chosen items for sale to community members doing a
little Christmas shopping.
“The kids will be making all kinds of things and selling them,” said Anthea Comardelle of Des Allemands First Assembly of God. “Most of them will have some help from their parents behind the table, but it’s
a chance to help them foster their own interests and creativity, and to help them understand how the business world works.”
Comardelle said the event will be open to the public. Among the lessons discussed along the way will be things like profit margin, basic addition and subtraction and marketing, including the persuasion concepts of ethos, pathos and logos.
“It’ll be an expo of sorts,” Comardelle said, adding that the church held the event for the first time last year and the positive reception led to its continuation. “It was exceptional … we hope to do this every year for them. They love it, they feel ownership of it. They do it and realize their creativity is fueling success, that hey, I can make money from something I made with my own hands.”
One of the marketing strategies the young entrepreneurs used was offering free candy with purchases of a certain price. Others were free samples of beignets and hot chocolate.
“One really cool thing was that one child came from a family of fishermen and crabbers. They took the crab shells and made Christmas ornaments out of it … they incorporated something from their lives into their business,” Comardelle said. “I know my son loves LEGOs, so he made the fidget spinners out of LEGOs … the kids also learn the barter system, so they’re trading, hey I’ll give you two of mine for one of yours. It’s cool to see.”
Some lessons are already being applied this time around.
“One of the kids who did beignets last year is doing fried Oreos this time because it’s more cost effective,” Comardelle said.
The event will take place over an approximately three-hour span on Dec. 7, starting at 9 a.m.
