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07/04/2017 01:30 PMA couple of kids with a summer lemonade stand is possibly one of the most American images of entrepreneurship, but local businesswoman Suzie Woodward, owner of Lark, 4 Water Street in Chester, wants to help the next generation take their dreams, hobbies, and passions a step further. On Sunday, July 16, Lark will host its first-ever Youth Launch, a day where young people from about 10 years-old to 18 will have the chance to set up a little pop-up shop on the lawn in front of the store and sell their wares.
“One of the things that I think is exciting is that it is a way to promote young people. Often when we plan events it’s a lot of time with adults in mind,” said Woodward. “It’s a way to promote young people, to affirm them, to encourage them, to give them some confidence and to learn a little bit.”
Participants have to fill out an application and pay a $25 “contract fee” as a registration fee, which will be returned to them on the day of the event so long as they fulfill their end of the participation agreement.
“It really is a free event for them, but it allows them to understand some of the processes of going into business,” said Woodward. “On the application, it asks for the cost of their item, and also for what they’re going to be selling it for—so the retail price—and then what is the difference. It gets them thinking about what they’re going to be making. It gives them some spending money, it gets their faces out of the cell phones, and it creates a family project, because they have to have parental or adult guidance and participation and presence on the day of the event.”
This is the first time Woodward has run this event, but she hopes that it can become an annual thing if not repeated later in the summer.
“Chester Sunday market is the best possible venue for it because we have lots of people going back and forth, but they’re going to invite family, and it means new people coming into town. I’m so excited about it. Out of all the events I’ve ever done at Lark, this one just has my heart. It feels like win-win-win. We’re promoting Chester as a destination for family and friends, it also promotes Lark, and promotes affirming these children,” said Woodward. “It’s a way of affirming something that they’re good at, which they may or may not go on with.”
“I always love keeping my lawn active in front of the store,” continued Woodward. “I think one of my friends said to me that we have activities for adults but we don’t for children, and it just got my brain going. I originally was going to use youth artists, but I thought why limit it to artists? I wanted them to be able to create from every avenue, instead of being selective by saying art. So, it’s just something creative of their own, and it can be something like a cupcake, or it can be henna tattoos, or dog toys, or whatever, so they can take that idea of something they enjoy doing and create a business around that.”
Each little shop can be card table-sized; Woodward anticipates 10 to 12, but really, as many as she can fit on the lawn in front of her shop. Participants should be prepared to be on site and ready to open for business by 9:30 a.m., and stay until 2 p.m. Woodward suggests that parents send out invitations to family and friends, as well, to come and support the youth participants.
“They’re not all from Chester; it’s not restricted,” said Woodward. “It’s open to ages 10 to 18 and we don’t even mind fudging the 10, but we won’t fudge on the 18. The $25 is to hold them accountable to being there because I don’t want another child to lose out on that opportunity.
“They have to come, set up by a certain time, stay until the end, and be there with a parent—parents have to sign the application so they know that they are saying that they are going to be there, I’m not responsible for their youth, they are” said Woodward. “This is a family event. I want that mentoring and guidance, and leadership for them to look up to. I want them to build confidence and recognize at those awkward stages in life that they are good at something.”
Participants who have already registered have started receiving a little bit of mentoring from Woodward, as she coaches them through what they should do on the day.
“I tell them that they need to practice their elevator speech, practice saying, ‘Hi, how are you, thank you for coming to my store.’ Kids at that age can be so shy and quiet,” said Woodward. “It’s so wonderful to watch them unfold in front of your eyes.”
While applications are coming in slowly, Woodward said that she won’t have a cut-off date, but there is a lot of interest so it is better to get in touch sooner rather than later.
“I have some fun awards to be given out—all affirming and positive. It is not a competition in any way,” said Woodward. “I would love to see it become a yearly event, I would love to do it again this summer, if it’s successful.”
All participants must fill out an application, which includes a parent signature indicating that they understand that there must be someone accompanying the youth participant for the duration of the day. All participants must also pay the $25 registration fee, which will be returned to them at the end of the day, so long as they comply with the rules of participation. For more information, or to apply, stop by Lark or call 860-322-4047.