The Spark of Enterprise: Big Ideas from Young Entrepreneurs

The Junior School gymnasium at St. Michaels University School was buzzing on Mar. 12 as students at the Entrepreneur Club Fair confidently explained the features and benefits of their products to curious parents, teachers and guests.

“You won’t need to fold down page corners anymore,” explained Grade 4 student Kaia, while demonstrating handmade bookmarks. A few tables away, Ellison in Grade 3 described how her quiet, squishy fidgets were designed to help students stay calm in class, while Aston, Grade 3, showed how his “Astonishing” tiny knitted hats could be used as bottle toppers, decorations or accessories for stuffed animals.

Across the room, tables displayed an enticing array of creations, from bath bombs and crocheted bags to 3D-printed fidgets, keychains and handmade accessories. At first glance, it could have passed for an artisan craft market. The difference was that the entrepreneurs behind these businesses were students in Grades 3 to 5.

The fair marked the culmination of eight weeks of work in the Junior School’s Entrepreneur Club, an after-school program that introduced students to the fundamentals of starting and running a business.

From Ideas to Businesses

Led by Becky Anderson, Director of the Junior School, the club challenged students to move from idea to product with the mindset of real entrepreneurs. Students brainstormed possible businesses, considered what value their products would offer, explored market research and pricing, and learned how to speak to customers about what they had created.

“This program is typically designed for middle school students and beyond,” Anderson said. “We wanted to see what it might look like with younger students, and they rose to the challenge. They quickly developed ideas, thought about the value their products offered, and learned how to present them to customers.”

Creativity on Display

Some businesses focused on handcrafted items, while others explored more technical designs. Several students used 3D printing to create inventive products, including small fidgets and an Infinity Cube made of interlocking pieces that could fold and twist into different shapes. Devon shared colourful zen crystal creations, explaining how each design represented feelings such as calm, love or energy.

Students also gave their businesses memorable names, including Wilder’s Wonderful Widgets, Super Satisfying Slime, Lucky Labels, Zara’s Killer Keychains and Marcus’s Mini Mart, which featured the tagline “big ideas, tiny designs.”

For some students, the project became a way to support causes that mattered to them. Hayes, who loves dogs, donated 10 percent of the profits from his Rocket Throw bags to the Victoria Humane Society. Edith and Emily, who created crocheted bags from upcycled T-shirts, spoke passionately about caring for the environment and planned to donate a portion of their sales to a local foundation.

Near the end of the hour, Anderson offered one final piece of business advice, encouraging students to think like real vendors and consider end-of-day specials to help sell remaining inventory. Within moments, students began announcing discounts and two-for-one offers as they worked to attract a few last customers before closing.

While the products themselves drew plenty of attention, the deeper success of the fair was the pride students took in the process. Over eight weeks, they imagined an idea, developed a product, built a brand, learned how to price their creations and explain their value to customers, and shared their work with confidence.

For many, it may have been their first experience running a business. Judging by the enthusiasm, creativity and professionalism on display, it is unlikely to be their last.