Hello Reader;

You are receiving this email because you and your child were accepted for the Children's Business Fair on Saturday, May 11th. This is one of a series of emails we will be sending in preparation for the big event. Please do not unsubscribe as you may miss key notifications in the follow-up emails for this event or others in the future.

With just a week to go until the big event, here are two things we need your help with for the big day:

1. PLEASE INVITE 10 PEOPLE to come out Saturday to support our budding entrepreneurs! (see attached graphic)
2. Parents - if any of you have connections to local media (TV news, Sun Sentinel, etc) we are making a big push this week to get the reporters out on Saturday to meet our young entrepreneurs

We have 38 Different Businesses, encompassing 57 different budding businesspeople working hard on the products, their marketing, and their sales pitches. This is our biggest year yet!

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Here are a few KEY REMINDERS on set-up times, and planning:

Q1: What are the ground rules?

A1: Thank you again for being a part of this remarkable event! And thank you for believing in your children! We (Children’s Business Fair organizers) believe that each child has a gift that can change the world in a profound way. We hope we can help your child continue to learn that they can do hard things, be accountable, and, most importantly, find their own calling in life that will help them change the world.

Guidelines for Parents and Guardians

• Parents of younger children may sit in their booth, but the children are to be responsible for the setup, sales and interacting with the customers.
• This event is designed to give children a taste of selling a product. Please let them have that full experience.
• Any parent seen selling to the customer or promoting the child’s product will result in disqualification from the competition.

Q2: I heard there will be judges. What are they judging?

A2: For the second year in a row - we are turning the judging over to ALL the participants and shoppers. Each table will have a QR code that links to an online ballot, listing all participants by age and category:

• Most Original/Highest Business Potential
• Best/Most Creative Presentation
• Best Salesmanship & Sales Pitch

Age groups for each category will be:

• Ages 5 to 9
• Age 10
• Ages 11 to 14

When a booth includes participants with mixed ages, we will categorize by the oldest participant.

Q3: What time does it start? What time does it end? When can we set-up?

A3: The Fair officially opens at 10am (with a special ceremony for each booth). Tables will be available for set-up at 9:30am. The Fair officially closes at 2pm, with a closing ceremony. We are a rain or shine event. 🙂

Q4: What does each booth need to bring?

A4: Every booth will get one 6-foot table, 2 chairs, and will be under the MODS Atrium awning overhead to keep out the sun (or rain). All table decorations (table cover, signs, displays) are the responsibility of the entrepreneurs. No electricity will be provided, and no ice or water lines will be provided. Please make any arrangements you may need for each booth to be self-sufficient.

Q5: Where to park?

A5: Right across the street from MODS is the Arts & Science District Garage at 101 SW 5th Avenue. That way you will be easily able to unload materials and walk across the street right into the MODS Atrium.

Q6: How much product should my son or daughter prepare?

A6: That is a question they have to judge, and part of the learning experience. Last year we had folks sell-out their full inventory, while others we less busy than they wanted to be. That is part of the learning is to figure out and judge market demand. I can tell you that we expect anywhere between 200-500 "shoppers" to visit the Fair on their way into MODS, based on weekend attendance and the turnout we had in December.

Q7: How can everyone help?

A7: Getting a great turnout at the event is fun for all involved. So please help by inviting friends to come out and support our young entrepreneurs. You can share the event listing on Facebook, but personal invitations always work the best!

Q8: (And here's the one question you didn't ask) What will be the hardest part of this event?

A8: Far and away, the hardest part is for us as parents, to step back and let our budding entrepreneurs do THEIR thing. IF we step in to rescue, we rob them of the learning opportunity. To Rescue = To Rob.

The hardest part for YOU as a parent, is stepping back and letting your child do this project on their own.

• It probably won't look pretty
• It definitely won't be the way you would do things
• They will definitely make mistakes (might even be tears)

... and all that is OKAY!

In fact, if we as parents can step back - they will have the greatest opportunity to learn.

When we rescue... we risk losing the learning.

When we help... we actually hurt the ones we love the most.

So today's reminder is more for you (and for me) than it is our budding entrepreneurs.

In what ways can you step back and let them truly own this experience (the good, the bad, AND the ugly)?

See you on Saturday!

~ Tobin

Tobin Slaven - Children's Business Fair - Event Organizer​
Dir of Development | Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale | 727-569-6603 (mobile)​