Kid biz: Young business owners wanted for entrepreneur event

The creative spirit is strong in Johnson County.

And the area’s most innovative young entrepreneurs are ready to showcase their best money-making ventures.

Young people with great business idea are invited to show off their work during a special fair planned for the Clark Pleasant branch of the Johnson County Public Library. A Kids’ Entrepreneur Event will unfold from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at the library, where local children can reserve a spot to set up and sell their crafts.

The go-getting youth can not only connect with potential customers and show off their products, but have the chance to meet with local small businesses owners to gain important insight and advice about following their own entrepreneurial journey.

The hope is to incubate people’s innovative business ideas — regardless of how old that person is.

“I love it. Since technically I run my own small business, and having other families and kids reach out to me, it’s just exciting to help them,” said Cynthia DeNoon, who is organizing the event.

The idea behind the entrepreneur event grew from DeNoon’s own experience as a small business owner. The Whiteland resident is the publisher of the Johnson County-Southside Indianapolis branch of Macaroni KID, a network of websites and newsletters aimed at families.

Versions are set up in thousands of communities nationwide, where creators share local events, review businesses and attractions, and curate lists of everything from local summer camps to restaurants where kids eat free.

DeNoon had followed Macaroni KID for the past seven years as a subscriber. When she saw they were hiring a publisher in this area, she jumped at the chance.

“I wanted to start this because I love writing, and I love taking my kids to do things all the time,” she said. “I have epilepsy, and it is really hard to find a company, or a job, that I can do that won’t trigger my seizures. This job seemed like an easy fit for me, and has been wonderful because of it.”

A kid-centric entrepreneur fair came to DeNoon after seeing the recent Biz Kidz Day at the Franklin Farmers Market. Nearly 20 young vendors ages 7 to 14 set up and sold everything from friendship bracelets to sunglasses to fishing lures.

She approached the mother of one of the participating kids, Hattie Lou Bennett, founder of Hattie Lou Blooms, to talk about the burgeoning business. The conversation steered towards the prospect of doing a similar event in the colder months when the farmers market was closed.

“We talked together about it, and this is what we came up with,” DeNoon said.

Working with the Clark Pleasant library staff, DeNoon secured a space and date at the end of September to host the event. She also started putting out posts and information about how to take part in the hopes of attracting business-minded kids to sign up.

Participation is completely free, and pizza and drinks will be provided before the fair starts. So far, about half of the available spots have been filled. Bennett will be set up with a booth for Hattie Lou Blooms. Carter Middleton will be selling 3-D printed items at his pop-up booth, Carson Quasebarth is slated to have homemade dog treats while his sister, Delaney Quasebarth does crochet.

Raelynn Faller offers jewelry and keychains, Cataleya Gonzalez specializes in creating pens, tumblers, and t-shirts while Malachi Ninkyi makes and sells lemonade.

DeNoon also tapped local small business owners to share some of their expertise. From 1:30 to 2 p.m., Katie Puckett or Indiana Small Business Connect and Mike Downey with American Family Insurance will share their own entrepreneurial journey in hopes of passing on knowledge and inspiring participants to follow their dreams. They’ll focus on not giving up hope on their small businesses, and how to grow with them as they age and get older, DeNoon said.

For community members who attend, they’ll get to vote on the best presentations, with prizes available for the top three presentations. All participants get to take home a gift bag.

Attendees to the event will also have the opportunity to do a “search and find” among the vendors’ booths as an added dose of fun.

“We’re hoping to keep it going and grow it bigger, so that once a month, we have a bunch of kids to support,” DeNoon said.

AT A GLANCE

Kids Entrepreneur Event

What: An event for local young entrepreneurs offering them an opportunity to sell their goods and learn more about starting a small business.

Who: Organized by Cynthia DeNoon, publisher of Macaroni KID Johnson County-Southside Indy

When: 1-5 p.m. Sept. 29; open to public 2-4:30 p.m.

Where: Clark Pleasant branch of Johnson County Public Library, 350 Clearwater Blvd., Whiteland

How to be involved: DeNoon is still looking for kids to take part in the fair. People can reserve a space by emailing her at [email protected]. Table and chairs are provided, you will need to come set up and decorate. There will be pizza and drinks provided before the event starts. Prizes for the three best presentations, all other vendors will get gift bags.

Information: facebook.com/macaronikidjohnsoncounty