TREP$ marketplace successful
VERNON — A new brand of flea market was held on Dec. 4, 2014, at the Lounsberry Hollow Middle School in Vernon.
The 65 vendors, encompassing 100 students, had created and displayed very saleable merchandise for the public to purchase. What made this flea market unique was that the vendors were 11 and 12 years old. The kids, and the program in which they participated, are referred to as “TREP$” — short for “entrepreneurs.”
The community came out in full support of this program, which has become an annual event, helping the children achieve success. Success meant different things to different kids. For some, it was the independence of earning their own money, and for others it was the skills they learned along the way.
Sydney Riker showed her school spirit by creating Tie Dyed shirts and socks. Students learned to find a need and fill it in their product development workshop. Syrus Terwilleger’s “Heat Does the Job”, sold reusable heating pads, Cole and Tristan Thompson created custom-made cell phone cases, and Kaitlyn Buurman produced customized binders. Many students learned about competition when they had to find a way to make their product unique from others who were selling similar items. There was competition between vendors who sold treats and baked goods such as Justin’s “JP’s Chocolates”, Troy and Austin’s “Sweet Tooth”, Julia and Lorraine’s “Marshmallow Mash”, Lauren’s “Candy Maker”, Aleah and Julia’s “Chocolate Covered Queens”, and the “Candy Bros.” Brent and Liam.
Others learned about supply and demand when they realized they may have overstocked their tables. Ryan Coppola with his handmade wooden Catapults and Julia Badillo and Emma Blaine with their snowcones learned that some businesses need the support of family in manufacturing their products. Others took what they had learned from the TREP$ workshops about product display and created eye-catching tables, such as Kayla Barca’s “Lots-“A”-Dots," Breanne Kastner’s “Creations from the Cloud”, Kaitlyn Marrocco and Robin Gindhart’s “Crazy Winter Wonderland”, Madison Gary and Lexi Aho’s “Let it Snow” and The “Chocolate Divas” Samantha Dombrowski and Danielle Guercio.
Students also learned the value of advertising. They promoted their businesses prior to the marketplace and as a result, customers came looking for them such as Danielle Fetzner’s “Seaglass Treasures”, Taylor Schwago’s Use your Noodle Pom-Pom Shooter and Joseph Martin’s “SlimeC”.
Some children already had marketable skills and just needed a sales venue. Tara Waldron sold her hand-made scarves and Meghan Mihalik and Maya Sauer showcased their handmade bracelets. Sarah Zabriski used the marketplace to showcase her original “Memories in a Bottle”. Many students tried their hand at making homemade body scrubs and lip gloss as well as ornaments. Overall, the TREP$ businesses were successful due to their commitment to attending the workshops, presenting a marketable product, and parental support.
Students and their parents invested an average of $35 per business plus start-up money for making change the day of the marketplace. Net profits, after paying investors back, ranged from $60-$240. Items ranged in price from 50 cents to $10. Many businesses sold out of their products and some even took orders. Some children chose to donate a portion of their profits to charity.
For all the children, success came in the realization that they were now “entrepreneurs.” This first experience introduced them to the world of small business. The event was the culmination of 6 weeks of hands-on, fun workshops that taught the participants about product development, finance, marketing, advertising, and sales. The workshops were well received by the students.
When polled by the coordinators, 98 percent of the participants said they would do it again.
They were asked “What will you remember the most about TREP$?” and many echoed that they will “remember the feeling of people when they said they loved my product.”