Children ages 6 to 16 set up sales booths, celebrating business and entrepreneurship

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Blaise Martin was dressed for success, wearing a black suit, a black hat, and sporting a red tie.

He was ready to sell.

His style. His brand. His magic.

His younger brother was there, too, to help.

Blaise, 13, is in charge. Guy, 11, is his employee.

Together, they worked the Martin Brothers Magic booth at Lemonade Day Greater Vancouver’s Junior Market at Esther Short Park on Saturday.

Blaise performed some magic that he said were just too good to sell, but he and his brother were selling some other magical maneuvers to customers, complete with live lessons and then step-by-step instructions to take home.

Their booth was one of more than 100 booths, all open with a goal in mind: For children 6 to 16 to sell their products and learn about the marketplace. 

The Greater Vancouver Chamber, with support from “main squeeze” sponsor OnPoint Community Credit Union, held this Lemonade Day event for the third year. This one was the biggest yet. 

Clark County Today was there with reporter Paul Valencia to file this story, as well as a video report.

Magic, art, lemonade, gnomes, and even pet rocks were available. In fact, organizers said there were 350 young entrepreneurs representing 225 businesses in more than 170 booths this year.

“We’re here to support kids who are stepping up to build their own businesses,” said Janet Kenefsky, VP of Operations for the Chamber. 

She said it is important for the market to be set up in a great location, so the young entrepreneurs can see what it is like to be supported by their community. The Junior Market was next to the very popular Vancouver Farmers Market.

“Our credit union was founded on giving back to the community,” said Tim Clevenger, SVP/Chief Marketing Officer at OnPoint Community Credit Union. Lemonade Day “teaches kids to take part of what they earn and give it back to the community.”

The mayor of Vancouver took a tour of the market as soon as it opened Saturday. She was impressed.

“Children have spent months preparing. What a great opportunity,” Anne McEnerny-Ogle said. “It’s giving them a lot of experience.”

Tatum Talbert, 10, is a “CEO in training” for Tatum and Her Gnomies. She and her family make gnomes, looking to place their “gnomies in homies.”

Mati Hoyt of Portland uses 3-D printers to design and create keepsakes for her All American Crafts.

Addison Vesneske, a 6-year-old from Vancouver, invited folks to pick a rock to adopt. People could then decorate their rock. The rock came with “official” adoption papers. 

At every turn, a different product. Pens. Mushroom decorated crafts. Wizard wands. Plants. And, of course, lemonade. And much, much more. 

Oh, and visiting all the booths, there was Lemmy, the mascot for Lemonade Day’s Junior Market.