Young entrepreneurs tried their hands at business this weekend at the inaugural Detroit Children’s Business Fair.

The event, co-hosted by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan, challenged children ages 6 through 14 to create a business and set up shop at the marketplace that took place Saturday in downtown Detroit. Approximately 30 children from 11 businesses sold products and services ranging from marshmallow guns, to coffee, to stress balls.

“We make the coffee and we sell it to people because we want people to stay awake and have energy in the morning,” said Juan Basurto told Rod Meloni, of Local 4 WDIV Detroit. His company, J.E.M. Coffee, sold Peruvian coffee and chocolate. “We want to raise money for our school so we can fix stuff that’s broken, like our playground. … I’m pretty excited for the new customers that are coming in.”

Mackinac Center Media Relations Manager Chantal Lovell told WDET in Detroit that the Center chose to co-host Detroit's first Acton Children’s Business Fair because it believes that more and better businesses mean more and better jobs, which leads to a better life for American families.

“We’re hoping this shows kids the opportunity there is in business and the rewards that and sense of satisfaction that can be had from a day of hard work and creativity.”

Watch Local 4’s coverage of the Children’s Business Fair here.

Learn more about Acton Children’s Business Fair here.

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