Starting a lemonade stand is a great way for children to learn valuable skill-sets, earn some extra money and most of all have fun. However, an unsuccessful lemonade stand can have a negative effect on a child, and they might become discouraged and have a poor experience overall.
There are certain things you can do as a parent to help your children have success with their lemonade stand, from choosing the right location to set up shop to up-selling customers. The following are five useful tips on how to run a successful neighborhood lemonade stand and help your children enjoy the experience.
Choose The Right Location
Location is one of the first and most considerations to make when opening a lemonade stand. The first instinct for many is to pick the front yard, but if you live at the end of a cul de sac, then the front yard might not yield much business. Instead, search around and consider the hot spots in the neighborhood, such as the neighborhood pool or near a popular stop sign. Although, you might need to seek permission when going outside of the front yard to set up.
Consider The Design
The design of the lemonade stand can play a large role in how successful the endeavor is. While a small table and a chair might suffice, putting in the extra effort to make the lemonade stand more visually appealing can have a profound effect, attracting more customers to want to purchase a delicious, cold lemonade on a hot day. When decorating, considering adding colorful fabrics on the table, jazzing up any signs you may have and purchasing fun, colorful lemonade cups.
Advertise The Right Way
It is true that fun is the main goal in a neighborhood lemonade stand, but it is not much fun at all standing out at the stand all day without any customers stopping by. To avoid this, it is important to get the word out there, and your kids can help! Consider posting flyers around the neighborhood, spreading the word through social media and letting the neighbors know whenever you see them.
Up-sell Your Customers
Lemonade is delicious in and of itself, but lemonade along with fresh baked cookies is even more desirable. Consider offering more than just lemonade at the lemonade stand, and instead, expand into tasty treats, extra large-sized cups and anything else you think customers might enjoy. The more you offer, the better the chance of generating the most amount of profit possible.
Be Nice and Have Fun
The number one tip for any and every lemonade stand is to have fun. Opening a lemonade stand is a memorable experience for every child that does so, and it is a great way to bond with your children in a powerful way. However, if they are not having fun then it might not be as memorable. While teaching valuable lessons about how business works and how to relate with other people is important, ensuring they are enjoying the experience and have a good time should be the number one goal.
Annette Masterson is a licensed broker with EXIT Realty Bob Lamb & Associates in Murfreesboro, TN. She has developed one of the most successful real estate teams in Rutherford County, known as Masterson Network, that specializes in new home construction and residential listings and sales throughout Middle Tennessee. You can email Annette at mastersonnetwork@gmail.com or call her at 615-896-5656 (Office) or 615-533-1660 (Cell) for more information.