Make Plans To Attend Saturday's Children's Business Fair In Prince George's County

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The first Prince George's County Children's Business Fair highlighting area entrepreneurs will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Matthew’s UMC, 14900 Annapolis Rd. in Bowie.

Three dozen young entrepreneurs age six to 14 will share their expertise and products with customers at this one-day marketplace where they will create a product or service, develop a brand, build a marketing strategy then interact with customers. According to organizer Ed Hanko, the kidpreneurs are responsible for the setup, sales and interacting with customers, and any parent seen selling to a customer or promoting the child’s product will result in disqualification from the competition.

"The products to be sold include bath bombs, comic books, affirmation headbands, art, jewelry, backpack trinkets, body butters, soaps and more," he told Patch.

This event is sponsored by The Patuxent Program, An Acton Experience, Acton Academy, the Acton Next Great Adventure and with support from donors and volunteers.

“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s business innovators and leaders. The Children’s Business Fair gives students the opportunity to spread their entrepreneurial wings and get a head start on promising business careers,” Jeff Sandefer, founder of the Acton School of Business, said.

Mom Gretchen Karl will be on hand at the fair as her three kids will participate. Genevieve “Evie” Karl, 11, from Bowie operates “Evie’s Stars.”

"She launched her business to participate in the business fair. She wanted to offer babysitting, but after talking it over with the Acton group, she decided on making craft kits. Her plan is to sell them to parents to help occupy their kids. We have five kids and our house is always nuts," Karl said. "She is super excited to be participating in the fair. She has been having trouble sleeping because she’s so excited."

Wyatt and Jameson Karl, ages 9 and 7 respectively, from Bowie will be operating “Tic and Tac’s Kitten Creations.”

"They launched their business as soon as they saw Evie working on hers. Immediately they came up with things they could sell and we entered them together. Wyatt made break apart throwing toys and Jameson made Egyptian-style bracelets. Their name comes from the fact that in our house we call them 'tic and tac' because they look like twins. They’re 18 months apart and get confused as twins a lot," Karl said. "They are really excited about the fair as well. They are working to finish their products so they have plenty of inventory."

Kristi Kaiss Agosto's son Danny, 9, from Bowie started his business a few months ago. Called Sticks and Stones, he makes "bush sticks," or handmade walking sticks and decorate garden stones that are locally sourced.

"He is super excited for the business fair," she shared with Patch.