Teaching Them Young

My son seems to follow in my footsteps with writing books and starting businesses. Last year Gabe set up a stand outside where he sold bookmarks that he made and lime rickeys. Then he made neck ties out of paper and went door to door taking custom orders. This year, Gabe has been wanting to set up a store in the driveway (for a couple of months now). We tried to do it a few weeks ago but it rained. So last Saturday when our whole community put on a yard sale, we saw the perfect chance.

We have this cute little store that the kids got from their Oma in Germany when Gabe was little. It's a Christmas tradition where my husband is from to set up these little stores in the house at Christmas time and the neighbors and relatives come over and buy miniature cheeses, sausages and candy from the children. We have a miniature shopping cart, baskets, sacks, register and all the works. Instead of getting it out just once a year we like to get our use out things.

So Gabe was terribly sad when he realized he had a soccer game and he had to leave the store into the hands of his four year old sister. But she did such a great job! 

I can't tell you how many cars pulled over just to come to the candy store. I don't know if it was Paisley's cuteness that won them over (which everyone seemed to comment on) or the store itself (not to mention that everyone asked where they could buy one - which is very tempting to open up an online store for selling these) but there was always a line in our driveway. In fact, we didn't really have much to contribute for a yard sale because we de-junked a year ago when we moved, but with what little junk we did have we made $65 all because of our candy store that lured people over.

The candy store was perfect for teaching the kids how to count and to learn about money. Paisley is my shy child and it was so good for her to get those people skills. We had such a good turn out, that there was nothing left by the end of the yard sale. The kids doubled their investment and put it in their piggy banks. I just have to teach my two year old that it's not a good idea to eat your inventory (she gobbled up all the cookies).

DAILY QUESTION:

What was your earliest experience as an entrepreneur?

Mine was selling salt water taffy in my driveway for a penny each when I was three years old.