The Children's Business Fair will showcase slime, prank kits, up-cycled purses and more ideas from the Green Bay area's young entrepreneurs.
If you're in the market for some realistic fake vomit, a prank kit or an upcycled purse, veer off the Farmers Market on Broadway's beaten path and head into Gather on Broadway.
The Children's Business Fair, a first of its kind event in Green Bay, will showcase up to 40 products developed and produced by young students from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Gather, 139 N. Broadway. And, kids, there's still time to sign up for a booth if you haven't yet.
Solid Foundation Learning Inc. organized the event, which seeks to connect disengaged students with alternate learning opportunities, founder Denise McFarlin said.
"We have a responsibility to engage kids, to look at learning differently," McFarlin said. "Currently, the words 'alternative education' come after you've gotten into some trouble. I don't want to wait. If we can identify the way kids learn, we can provide a variety of engaging opportunities."
Gather On Broadway co-owner Tony Ehrbar said the events venue's owners saw a bit of their own entrepreneurial spirit in the fair. He said Gather was glad to offer up a location that will hopefully draw a lot of Farmers Market on Broadway traffic.
"As entrepreneurs who took the leap on a big, new idea two years ago, we can fully appreciate the ingenuity, passion and time that these kids have put into their businesses," Ehrbar said.
The kids developed their products and brands, marketing plans and production systems over the summer. McFarlin said she's been impressed by the dozen or so registrants, but the true test will come Wednesday when they have to sell their products.
"One young man is selling a prank kit so you can prank your friends with the most realistic-looking fake vomit I've seen in a long time," she said. "Two other boys doing a magic kit with instructions for tricks to play on your friends. Two sisters are refashioning old purses with accents and flowers."