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Youth Learn to Run Business
Posted: 05/05/2011
Katy residents joined more than 50,000 young entrepreneurs in running their own business Sunday during the annual Lemonade Day.
The event was founded in Houston in 2007 by Prepared 4 Life, a nonprofit organization that focuses on building assets in children by integrating life skills, character education and entrepreneurship in order to overcome obstacles and become contributing and productive members of society.
Lemonade Day is designed to teach children how to start, own and operate their own business - a lemonade stand. After covering expenses and paying back their investors, lemonaders are then encouraged to "spend a little, save a little and share a little" by donating a portion of their profits to charity.
Among participants in the Katy area was the Alpha chapter of the Boys Charity League, a service organization that is starting in Katy.
The Alpha Charity League had five lemonade stands around the area including two at Katy Mills Mall and one at LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch.
The group sold the lemonade for $1 per cup and is donating all of the proceeds to two charities, Camp for All, an event for children with disabilities, and Camp Pump It Up, an event for children with heart conditions.
"They're actually given a booklet that helps them learn entrepreneurial skills," said Kim Gammon, one of the mothers and sponsors.
"Entrepreneur Workbook and Marketing Tips" helps participants set goals, develop a business plan, establish a budget, seek investors, provide customers service and give back to the community.
"The boys tested like 11 different recipes," said Melissa Constanzo, another mother. "They had to figure out how much it cost to make it and how much they could sell it to make a profit. They had to buy the ingredients, make the product and learn pretty much everything about running their own business."
"We had a meeting and broke down what all of our jobs were," said Greg Pipe. "I helped set up and paint (the lemonade stand)."
"I was in charge of the advertising," said Gabe Costanzo. "We had two different flyer ideas - one had a little more information about Lemonade Day - and we made a banner for the top (of the stand)."
The boys said they learned that certain techniques were better at attracting customers.
"Trying to confront them doesn't work as well," Costanzo said.
"They just walk away," Pipe said.
"When they get close to the stand and we tell them a little more about Lemonade Day and the Charity League, they're more willing to buy."
One of the buyers was Irene Baliaris, 9.
"She saw them advertising on the other side of the mall and said, ‘I want one," said her mother, Hannah Sasser. "We saw them on this side, and I thought, ‘It's for charity so OK.' I don't let her spend her own money."
Lemonade Day 2012 is scheduled for Sunday, May 6.
For more information about participating or to sponsor the event, go to http://houston/lemonadeday.org.