Alley Cats Marketplace to host their first Kids Market
There are already vendors with pet rocks complete with accessories, beadwork key chains, custom-made stickers, photography, and other arts and crafts.
Entrepreneurship for children often means helping their parents achieve their dreams by working in stockrooms and kitchens. But what if a young child has dreams of marketplace success for themselves?
The chance to create a small business endeavor is coming to Alley Cats Marketplace in downtown New Philadelphia, where owner Debbie Knisely said the first Kids Market is set for July 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Alley Cats Marketplace has been so warmly welcomed in the community,” Knisely said. “We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to get kids involved and let them be a part of it?’”
The Kids Market is headed up by Tracey Taylor, who first brought the idea to Knisely.
Taylor, whose education and background is in marketing, said she has always wanted to put together a space for kids to sell their creations and ideas.
”I think young people need to use their imaginations as much as possible,” she said. “This is a way to show kids that their future is bright and they can actually begin selling the things they like to create.”
The Kids Market is open to children age 7-17, and participation is free.
Taylor said her daughter Emily Taylor will participate in the market by offering nature photographs she has taken around the county. Emily Taylor also helped create a logo for the event.
The idea is already finding traction and interest. “The people who have reached out to us and are signing up have been very excited,” Taylor said. “There are already vendors with pet rocks complete with accessories, beadwork key chains and custom-made stickers preparing for the Kids Market.”
Taylor also has secured sponsorship for the display tables the young businesspeople will use, allowing the experience to be free for the day.
“While we want the kids to handle everything, we ask that a parent remain with their child through the event,” Taylor said. “The kids should design and create their product, market it, make it themselves and offer it for sale. Parents can help with things like handling money.”
In the spirit of giving free rein to young imaginations to come up with anything they want, there are few restrictions. “We can’t have any edible items, and we discourage things made of glass for safety reasons. Other than that, we really want kids to be creative and think for themselves,” Taylor said.
Participants also will be included at the First Towne Days Festival Parade, helping to market what they have produced for sale, Taylor said.
Both Taylor and Knisely said they hope the event will return annually and grow in the coming years.
“Whatever they can create is entirely up to them,” Knisely said. “They can put aside social media for a while and find new ways to express their own creativity. We hope this becomes an annual event.”
Taylor said she is prepared if participation is high, and if necessary, tables will be set up outside the market and some spillover can be accommodated at nearby Fresh The Market.
Participation begins by stopping by Alley Cats Marketplace at 115 Allen Lane SW in New Philadelphia for a form.
“I’ve felt for a long time that this could be a really great thing for kids and for the community,” Taylor said. “It will be a fun day for everyone, and the kids will learn about what it takes, on a small scale, to create something to sell successfully.”