Eight-year old Ella Gwin, affectionately known to her loved ones as Sister, is busy prepping and baking for her vendor booth, Sister’s Sweet Shop, at the Kids Business Market this Saturday, June 22, from 11 AM-3 PM at the Alexandria Mall. 

 

While this will be Ella’s first time setting up at the mall, she is no stranger to entrepreneurship. She’s sold her sweet treats at previous markets including The Barn at Aunt Julia’s Garden. She also maintains a business Facebook page and fills pre-orders placed on social media. Ella has customers from all over Louisiana and Texas! 

 

Ella graduated from helping out with dinner to baking for her family to turning her baking into a business. I thought I was business-savvy trading dimes for cups of lemonade when I was Ella’s age but she’s far surpassed mixing a packet of lemonade with sugar and water. Ella has been baking cookies, brownies, cookie butter, red velvet cake, cake pops, and edible cookie dough. 

 

“I like the idea of maybe having a bakery food truck one day,” Ella shares. “I love getting to share my baked goods with people!”

 

Sharing their products with the public is exactly what this program is designed for. Youth aged 6-15 years old set up and sell their goods in a market designed to promote retail entrepreneurism. They keep all of their earnings. 

 

Parents are grateful for the opportunity. Ella’s mom, Lisa Gwin, shares “I love that the Alexandria Mall offers these kids an opportunity to be seen as young business people. The skills they will learn from prep work, to social interaction, to marketing, to finances is invaluable!”

 

Gwin remembered her own jewelry making business when she was Ella’s age. A family friend offered a small part of her booth space at a craft fair that meant the world to her. She is thrilled to see Ella get a similar opportunity. 

 

Others receiving booth space include It’s Just The Kid In Me and You Shop, Bling by Roman and Dale, Two Brothers Designing Company, Alpaca Art Studio, T & J’s  Snak Shak, The Preppy Place, Crafty Cat, Kennyria’s Jewelry Shop, and Kase’s Art. 

 

Come out and support the future leaders of Cenla at the Alexandria Mall, 3437 Masonic Drive, and sampling their ware!