By Stephanie Irvine

Although the rain cut the Village of Manhattan’s Young Entrepreneurs Market short this year, it didn’t stop over 50 youth businesses from making sales, and more importantly, making smiles.

The July 19 event was scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon. However, with thunderstorms rolling in, the village wrapped up the event shortly before 11 a.m. for everyone’s safety.

Despite the inclement weather, the kids had a great time running their businesses.

The entrepreneurs were innovative and offered a wide range of items for sale, including jewelry, apparel, decor, food and drinks, and so much more. Some entrepreneurs sold services, such as face painting.

But more than making sales and making money, the kids, by and large, said their favorite part was making people happy.

“Seeing people smile!” 9-year-old Morgan Mix said was her favorite part about the business, Cotton Clouds and Co. she co-owns with her friend, 9-year-old Mya Modeer. Together, they sell cotton candy

Addy Brown, 13, of Manhattan, offered face painting with a variety of creative options. Her designs caught the eye of 6-year-old John Boyle, who was passing by, also from Manhattan, who purchased a $3 soccer ball face-painting design.

“It’s fun, and I like to do art,” Brown said of her business as she put the finishing touches on Boyle. Though she was shy, it was clear that she enjoyed what she was doing, and the kids whose faces she painted enjoyed it just as much.

While Brown sold a service, Lea Ahmad, age 11 of Manhattan, had cake pops and jewelry for sale at her business, Sweetness ‘n Bling. She’s a returning young entrepreneur who plans to come back again next year.

“My favorite part is mainly selling my stuff because people enjoy it and it makes them happy,” Ahmad said.

Slimes Are Vibes is owned by Arianna Katin and Violet Reddicks, both age 10 of Manhattan. The girls wanted to offer something a little different. They, too, sought smiles over sales.

“Making the signs and making sure everyone’s happy,” Katin explained, was what she enjoyed most.

The duo held a business meeting where they made the signs, set pricing, and “went over all the stuff” to prepare for the event.

The idea for the Young Entrepreneurs Market sprang from a request by a local parent that the village hold a ribbon cutting for their family’s lemonade stand.

Originally, village officials used to tour youth businesses, but with Trustee Justin Young’s input, they decided to establish the Young Entrepreneurs Market, centralized in the Village Hall’s parking lot to allow for more customers for the kids. He credited event organizer Kristen Reinke with the village for the name.

The event, which is open to entrepreneurs aged 17 and under, provides them with the opportunity to enter the world of business ownership. They get to experience a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and they receive an honorary village business license and Chamber of Commerce membership.

“They have to promote themselves and be creative,” Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen said, adding that it also gives kids the experience of starting a business, and the pros and cons of such.

The young entrepreneurs must set prices, arrange a display in their booth space, sell their goods and services, handle money, and make change.

While the kids certainly worked hard, they learned an even bigger lesson: how good it can feel to make other people happy.

Sisters Concrete Creations came out from Oak Forest to share in the Young Entrepreneurs Market, selling concrete statues and small paintable concrete casts. Their business isn’t new to the event, but they were excited about the idea of sharing their wares with other young sellers like them.

Their dad, a concrete laborer, wanted the girls, now 14-year-old twins, Samantha and Alyssa, along with younger sister, Bella, 11, to get off their iPads during the pandemic.

“We made the little paintables and sold them for a dollar each to our neighbors. Then, a fire lit up after we had seen how it was putting smiles on people’s faces,” Samantha Lewis explained, quietly adding that getting a little extra money was nice, too.

“Every other month, we go to Shriners Children’s Hospital and give them 90 paintables for them to paint and use for therapy. We also decorated their garden with our statues,” Samantha Lewis added.

Younger sister, Bella, chimed in that she is a patient there, making their work extra important.

Young explained that while many of the village’s popular events allow kids, they aren’t necessarily centered around kids, as many involve alcohol. This is one event that is completely for the kids and families.

“When we were younger, you had to earn your $20,” he said. “It gets back to the roots of working hard and making money.”

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.

At Cotton Clouds and Co., Morgan Mix swirls cotton candy while business partner Mya Modeer looks on.
(Photos by Stephanie Irvine)

 

Lea Ahmad talks to a customer at her business booth, Sweetness ‘n Bling.

Arianna Karin boxes up a package for some customers at her business, Slimes Are Vibes.

Three Sisters Concrete, Samantha, Alyssa, and Bella Lewis, pose for a quick picture at their business booth, Sisters Concrete Creations of Oak Forest.