A recent class project to create items to “sell” at the student fair trade store was a lesson to me in how much my daughters have learned by example. They’ve watched me work for years on the website and the past few years working full-time back in publishing sales. They help me assemble presentation kits, hear me talk to customers on the phone, see me practicing for presentations and working tirelessly on my laptop.
I tend to over-explain what I am doing and why I do things this way or that way. Why? I think it’s important for my kids to understand basic business practices at a young age. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and new businesses start and end every day. They know you have to set yourself apart and go the extra mile! So when my nine year-old decided she wanted to make floral pens and headbands for her store “Panda’s Market,” I knew it was time to resurrect my inner craftiness again.
Out came the hot glue gun, reams of ribbons and trips to the dollar store to get missing supplies.
Hours later we had quite an assortment of cute pens and headbands ready to rolls, but better yet, she was working on her ad campaign to go with it! She created a sign, personally decorated gift bags, devised a discount on multiple purchases, and made sure her store display was inviting. My favorite idea she had was to wear her decorated headbands to school this week before market day to entice shoppers before the grand opening!
I burned my fingers on the hot glue gun as her assistant (she learned to delegate the dangerous parts of her business!). But the beaming smile and pride in her store made it all worth it! Little sis was right there and improved our sticky flower pens by suggesting we wrap ribbon around them too. Great job girls… I must be doing something right!
