Wyland Elementary’s First Kids Winter Biz Market Boasts Success

More than a dozen Wyland Elementary students, plus several siblings and others connected with the school, had the thrill of selling items they made at the school’s first Kids Winter Biz Market on Dec. 7 in the school gym. To their surprise, many students sold out of their handmade products.

The Kids Biz Market was the brainchild of the school’s PTO secretary, Nicole Gilbert, who shared the idea earlier in the school year as a way to offer students a hands-on business experience.

“We immediately embraced the idea,” said Jessica Friedman, the PTO’s president. “Our goal was to empower students to experience entrepreneurship firsthand, from starting their own business and creating an inventory to setting up a booth and selling their products.”

The event was a success by all accounts. Eleven Wyland students, two preschool siblings, three Wyland Girl Scouts and two Buder Elementary students offered crafts spanning from bracelets and glittery hair gel to propagated Vick’s plants, homemade fire starters, skin scrubs, gingerbread ornaments and more. 

Almost all students ran out of their handmade crafts, which were priced at $5 or less. Those who had any remaining inventory could trade one of their items with an item made by another student. 

“The event was an incredible success, with a steady stream of customers from families, friends and the community coming out to support the student vendors, and many participants selling out of their products,” said Gilbert.

Zoey Maki, a Wyland second-grader, sold canvas paintings and hair gel that had glitter in it. She says she spent two full days making all her inventory for the fair. At the end of the three-hour event, she earned $52 that she planned to use “to buy gifts for Christmas for my family.” 

Wyland fourth-grader Navaeh Howell said she had previously sold popcorn she made when she was a student in Texas, but this time she sold a craft that has become a hobby for her: making sugar scrubs “that make your skin soft.” 

Howell sold out of the 20 jars of scrub that were scented with coconut, peppermint and coffee and other aromas.

“I was up to 9 o'clock for two night trying to finish up before this fair,” said Howell. “I thought I wasn’t going to sell any, so I was very surprised that I sold out.”

Howell said she saved one jar so she could trade it at the end of the fair for a “plant people” craft made by fellow fourth-grader Jake Benke. The Plant People were small planters that were decorated with legos to look like different robots. Each planter had a small plant in it.

Wyland Principal Dr. Kelsey Bodie, said she was amazed at the students’ creativity and business savvy at the fair.

“This was a fabulous event that showcased our students’ hobbies,” said Bodie. “It gave our students a real-world experience in running a small business with crafts they enjoyed making. Seeing friends, families and others in our community supporting our students by buying their amazing products truly gave them a boost in their self-esteem, and customers left with some great gifts before the holidays.” 

Other Wyland students who participated in the inaugural Kids Winter Biz Market were: 

• Reese Boehm, third grade, who sold beaded bracelets
• Ian Ortiz Ladino, first grade, who sold stress balls
• Max Howell, second grade, who sold fire starters and Vick’s plants that he propagated himself
• Aberdeen Wann, fourth grade, who sold jewelry
• Alexa Garcia, first grade, who made bracelets
• Amy and Ellie Owsley, fourth- and second-graders, who sold Kawaii origami crafts and journals
• Thea Blow, fourth grade, who sold rainbow loom bracelets.

Other Ritenour students who were siblings of Wyland students or were connected to Wyland as Girl Scouts included:

• Edin Graham, a fourth grade Girl Scout who sold water bottle decor
• Emilia Graham, a preschooler at the Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education (RSECE), sold handmade crayons in different shapes
• Dra’ke Valley, a fourth-grade girl scout who sold t-shirts
• Lucas Benke, a preschooler at RSECE, sold paper drawings and gingerbread ornaments
• Luella Banuelos, a Marvin fifth-grader and Wyland Girl Scout, sold dragon key chains
• Leann and Romina De La Cruz Amador, fourth- and first-graders at Buder Elementary, who sold jewelry.

The PTO extended invitations to other young students outside of Wyland a couple of weeks prior to its debut when they realized they could still fit a few more vendors in the gym. Next year, Friedman said the PTO will host an even bigger student-run event based on this year’s success.