Sisters are among those who will present their products at Saturday’s event

Vegan banana smoothie face masks. Zodiac-inspired beaded bracelets and earrings. And moisturizers for all skin types.

All made by three girls who run their own businesses with the help of Lemonade Day, a free program that helps kids ages six to 16 years old become entrepreneurs.

You can buy wares from their companies Beaded Besties and Skin Treats, and more than 150 more kid-owned businesses at this year’s Junior Market on Saturday (June 3) from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Esther Short Park. The event is a conclusion to the Lemonade Day program.

Entrepreneurism runs in the family

Sisters Zion, 14, Ziarre, 15, and their cousin Bree, 14, grew up watching their grandmother sell her handmade jewelry and skin care. Inspired, they learned the ins and outs of her business so they could start selling products for kids their age.

After buying their grandmother’s intellectual property — her skincare product recipes — the girls became co-owners and formed a leadership team. Ziarre, chief executive officer (CEO), oversees go-to-market strategy and social media. Zion, chief financial officer (CFO), manages the balance sheet. And Bree, chief administrative officer (CAO), handles inventory. All three girls are responsible for making products at home right at the kitchen table.

The girls launched Beaded Besties in 2020 and opened Skin Treats shortly after.

Business lessons in the digital age, courtesy of the Chamber and OnPoint

The Beaded Besties and Skin Treats founders quickly grew an online customer base, but they wanted to learn more about best business practices and how to expand.

In 2022, they joined My Lemonade Day, a free program offered by the Greater Vancouver Chamber that teaches kids everything they need to know to open their own business.

The program culminates with Lemonade Day’s Junior Market, an opportunity for kids to host a booth and sell their handmade or homegrown products. This year will be Beaded Besties and Skin Treats’ second year at the market.

Ziarre, Zion and Bree leverage the My Lemonade Day app for both business lines. The app offers lessons about how to build a business plan, create budgets, set profit-making goals and serve customers. The girls learned how much money to spend on goods, how to share profits, and how much to save. They also learned how to practice their business pitch and plan a go-to-market strategy. This year, Greater Vancouver Chamber is offering the program and app for free through an investment from OnPoint Community Credit Union. OnPoint’s contribution supports Lemonade Day’s mission to empower youth to become future entrepreneurs, providing thousands of kids in Southwest Washington with real-world experience starting, owning, and operating their own businesses.

In addition to Lemonade Day’s Junior Market, you can find Beaded Besties and Skin Treats booths at other local farmers’ markets. As for the future? The three girls hope to have their own storefront.

What: Junior Market | In Partnership with Lemonade Day Greater Vancouver 

Background: Over 300 kids 6-16 years old from across Southwest Washington have signed up to run their very own business for a day selling creative homegrown and handmade products at the Junior Market. This event serves as a platform for our kids to showcase the business skills they have learned through the My Lemonade Day program, like how to create budgets, set profit-making goals, serve customers, repay investors, and give back to the community. The average profit per stand is $225, but children commonly make $300-$500 on this day, and many up to or over $1000! Last year’s event generated $25,000 in profit that went directly into the pockets of our young CEOs. We are confident that the Junior Marker event will be an inspiring and captivating experience for the media, providing compelling stories and visuals that showcase the extraordinary potential of our youth.

When: Saturday, June 3

Where: Vancouver Farmers Market | Esther Short Park (605 Esther St., Vancouver, WA 98660)

Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.