Children’s Business Fair Launches Young Entrepreneurs In Guildford

Published on: 24 Jul, 2019
Updated on: 27 Jul, 2019

By Hugh Coakley

Budding entrepreneurs packed into the Holy Trinity Church in Guildford High Street on Saturday, July 20 to sell their ideas and make some money.

They were taking the opportunity at the latest in a series of Children’s Business Fairs to start their own business.

The Children’s Business Fair in Holy Trinity Church in Guildford’s High Street.

Young people, aged seven to 17 years old, were developing products and brands, thinking about how they are going to market it and were then open for real customers at the one-day marketplace event.

And they were taking it very seriously.

Products on offer at the 42 stalls in the church ranged from fridge magnets to plants, cakes and biscuits, oils and even unusual drinks.

Maisie and Amber Long with their start-up business, Magneficent. They were making and selling wishing stones and fridge magnets.

Maisie Long, aged 10, and her sister, Amber both attended Bushy Hill Junior School and they had set up Magneficent as their business. They had made wishing stones and very attractive fridge magnets which were selling well. They had covered their £20 stall fee at about the half-way mark during the day.

When I spoke to them, they were negotiating with their mother, Heidi Kane, on whether she would charge them for her petrol in getting them to the venue. Heidi said: “They are very motivated. They have to think about all aspects of the business. I loaned them the money but they came up with all the ideas.”

Anya Gao, aged nine and Charlotte Langridge, eight, were both from Burpham Foundation Primary School and they had decided that their business, Professor Squish, would not be restricted by the restraints of their stall. They were using the creativity and imagination to actively selling both in and outside the church.

Anya Gao and Charlotte Langridge were selling decorated sponges in their business, Professor Squish.

Augustus Keppel, aged 16 and attending Stowe School and Noah Rogerson, 16 and attending Charterhouse, were selling a flavoured cold tea under the name of The Bubble Company. They said that they were going to decide whether or not to launch a business after seeing the reaction at the fair. Judging by the £50 or so taken after an hour, they could be onto a winner.

The Bubble Company was the brainchild of Augustus Keppel and Noah Rogerson.

Samuel Inkster, 14 years old and from George Abbot School, was selling plants that he had grown. He is a keen gardener and wants to be a zoologist when he leaves school.

Manon Dalli, aged 11 from Bushy Hill Junior School, grew the chilli plants and made the chilli oil and flakes herself for her business, Just Chilli’ng.

The Guildford Children’s Business Fair was founded by Sam Rogerson. He said: “The Children’s Business Fair teaches them about business and business skills.

“There were 64 talented entrepreneurs in the hall today and they learned some of the things you need in the 21st century in business such as grit, creativity and problem solving skills.”

There have been three fairs to date with 500 attending the fair in March earlier in the year. Sam said that the non-profit making organisation would be looking to set up another fair later in the year.

If you want to take part, you can apply online by clicking here. And who knows what new business tycoons could emerge.