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Young Entrepreneurs Market highlights local talents
On the grassy lot of The Triangle, the telltale signs of a market popped up on Saturday, July 19. Tents were raised, tables were set up, and goods were on display. But this was no ordinary event - it was a Young Entrepreneurs Market hosted by the City of Dripping Springs, and the vendors selling their wares ranged in age from 4 to 14.
The proprietor of Zoe’s Slimetopia was on hand with her homemade slime, where attendees could purchase different colors and components to make their own creations.
“You can get a jar and you can either get two slimes, which is nine dollars, or one slime, which is going to be five dollars,” Zoe said. “With the pack, it comes with those beads, or fishbowl beads, which are like little toppings you can put on, and two glitters. For 50 cents, you can also get cute little charms, and for one dollar, you can get these big charms.”
Zoe got the idea for her business after seeing a similar booth at RED Arena.
“I really like slime. It's fun. It's very calming,” Zoe said. “It's really fun adding all the ingredients and watching people mix them in. It's just so pretty, because every time it's gonna be different.”
The youngest vendor on hand was fouryear- old K.J., who got a little help from her parents to set up and run her booth, K.J.’s Makerspace. She was showing her original artworks, and also staying busy with all the activities her mom brought along, including a crafts table where kids could make their own art. Her mother, Kisha Brown, said K.J. has been creating since she was crawling.
“She teaches me. I don’t know art, but I’m learning it through her, and just letting her create,” Kisha said.
K.J.’s father and grandfather are both artistic, so she may have gotten some of those skills naturally, Kisha said. There were several other artists at the market, including Evelyn, who likes to draw and paint.
“I have the bookmarks that I'm making, and there's some with flowers on them, and little cards,” Evelyn said. “And then I have some little drawings here - there's one that is a horse, and a hawk perched on a post, and then a little bird on a branch, and then a duck.”
Her favorite creation was a painting of a blue whale, with some birds and some yellow clouds.
“I've been doing art since I was a young age,” Evelyn said. “I don't really remember, but I think I was like four when I started, or maybe even three.”
Siblings Lincoln and Verity were also selling their wares at the market. Lincoln has been woodworking for six years, and was selling bookshelves, bird houses and a few other items.
“I've always had an intrigue for creating things, and so my dad taught me,” Lincoln said.
Verity was selling dish scrubbies that she crocheted.
“They're basically like sponges, you just use them to do your dishes,” Verity said. “You just wash out the food after you use them, and they could last for about three months or so.”
Verity has been crocheting for about four or five years. Another fabrics crafter at the market was Gracie, whose booth The Dog Girl was selling dog bandanas that she has sewn.
“I always get excited for markets, even though I might not sell that many,” Gracie said. “If I sell some, I mean that's just a great experience. I love selling my bandanas because it just brings me joy.”
Gracie learned how to sew from her grandmother, and now has her own sewing machine. This is her fifth market.
While this is the first Young Entrepreneurs Market that the city of Dripping Springs has hosted, it may not be the last. Several of the parents in attendance are hoping to keep it going, including Kisha Brown. She said it’s a great experience for kids, because they learn communication, consumerism and financial literacy. She said they hope to have another market in September, which will give them more time to spread the word to other families and the community.
“We're just on the beginning stages,” Kisha said. “Everything big starts small, right? So, here we are.”
