Lessons from Three Young Makers

Numerous tents, the buzz of families and visitors, and tables filled with handmade goods—that was the scene at the Kids Community Market in Pacheco, CA, two weeks ago. We don’t often get to meet other young entrepreneurs, so we made the most of the chance. Today we’re sharing some of the tips and inspiration we brought back from three of them: Emaline, Scout, and Luna.

Emaline, 11 — Sewing & Knitting

Emaline is very crafty and simply loves to sell her creations.

When we asked what she enjoys most about running her business, she paused for a moment before answering:

Yes, independence feels good!
From our own card business, we’ve learned that to grow something bigger, adults need to step in and guide you. This very newsletter is proof—we need technical support, editorial advice, and much more to get started and improve over time. (Even parents have to keep learning so they can help. 😉)

Of course, not everything goes smoothly. Emaline admitted the hardest part has been:

It’s a real challenge. Creating is only half of the journey. Finding ways to put your work into people’s hands is the other.
For us, that has meant building more than one sales channel—walking into nearby stores to ask if they’d carry our cards and showing up at local pop-ups. That challenge pushed us to improve the quality of our product.

Emaline shared a lesson she’s learned:

When you’re starting out, it helps to check what others charge for similar products, then make sure your own costs and time are covered so you still make a profit.

And when asked what advice she’d share with other kids, her answer was short and wise:

We love that advice. Starting simple keeps you from feeling overwhelmed and gives you confidence to grow step by step.

Scout, 11 — Hand-Painted Greeting Cards

At her booth, Scout displayed her colorful cards, each one starting as a careful sketch.

When we asked about challenges, she was honest:

That’s something every creator runs into—the balance between how long something takes to make and what people are willing to pay for it. Scout is already thinking ahead about printing, and that’s exactly the step we took too. In the beginning, each of our cards was made completely by hand, and every one took hours. Switching to printing let us spend more time creating detailed designs and lower the price when selling in bulk.

When it comes to advice for other young entrepreneurs, Scout kept it to the point:

And when we asked about the future, she shared new ideas:

At 11, it’s good to want to experiment with new products. Still, sticking with one idea, finding solutions along the way, and continuing to improve can take your work further than you expect.

Luna, 15 — Handmade Brooms & Henna Tattoos

Luna’s table offered something different: delicate henna tattoos and handmade brooms.

When we asked about her first sales, she smiled as she remembered:

That joy of the first sale is memorable. And she’s right—people love hearing the story behind what you make. Sharing your process brings them closer. Knowing what to say isn’t always easy, though, which is why we put together a free guide: What to Say at a Market Booth.

We were curious what Luna enjoyed most about her business. She didn’t hesitate:

But she also talked about the challenges:

Creating a beautiful product is one thing, but learning how to present it and reach more people is just as important. Marketing is a whole world of its own—and we all have a long way to grow.

And with that, we’ll let Luna’s words speak for everyone we met:

Zélia, for SoliaVenture

P.S. Want a glimpse of that day? We shared a short video on Instagram.
P.P.S. The Halloween giveaway got pushed back just a little—look for it in next week’s newsletter! 🎃