This article is part of the Black Magic Project, which is a series of stories focusing on those who do inspiring things in the black community. If you’re a Facebook user, you can join our Black Magic Project group, where we talk about stories and issues concerning black Alabamians.
During a business fair for children, a Birmingham teen will continue her journey of becoming a world-renowned chef.
Chloe Mays-Gary, a 13-year-old founder of a catering service called Chloe’s Cuisine, has been cooking since she was in the single digits. She can taste one spoonful of a dish and accurately list all the ingredients. Creamy seafood pasta is her specialty.
Chloe and more than 40 other entrepreneurs between the ages of 6 and 16 will be promoting their businesses during the Metro Birmingham Children's Business Fair at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama in Hueytown on Saturday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. While the event is free and open to the public, attendants can purchase a variety of items from the young CEOs. A 13-year-old entrepreneur will be selling her handmade lip glosses in a variety of colors. A six-year-old who was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) as a toddler is selling used toys for kids who also have SPD or Autism.
This will be the third children's business fair to be held in Jefferson County. The first fair was held in Fairfield last April and the second one took place in Bessemer in October.
Chloe, who has also participated in both fairs, will be selling her own special blend of seasonings at a table decorated in purple and gold. The teen has sold about $350 of seasonings alone during the first two fairs, where she also introduced customers to her catering service. Since the first fair last year, Chloe has been the caterer for six events, including a high school reunion, and made $965 total.
The kids who participate in the business fair are taught how to make their own business plans and how to talk to customers, but Chloe said her favorite part about the fair is building her self-esteem.
“It has taught me that I can do anything that I want to do,” Chloe said. “I am strong and I can get through a lot of things.”
The Metro Birmingham Children's Business Fair is actually a nonprofit started by Charita Cadenhead and her aunt Sabrina Mays. Cadenhead said the idea came after Mays challenged a group of local youth during last year's Spring Break to create their own businesses. If the kids made a profit, Mays promised to match it.
Cadenhead said the kids didn't miss a beat. They rush to wash cars and sell dinner plates and toys. Cadenhead thought it would be a good idea to tap into the kids' entrepreneurial spirt a little bit more. After all, there are multiple children across the nation who have successful businesses, she told herself.
She thought about Mikaila Ulmer, the 11-year-old girl from Austin, Texas who scored a $11 million deal with Whole Foods to sell her honey-sweetened lemonade. Ulmer was four when she started the business.
Cadenhead said kids are a free spirit when it comes to chasing after their dreams.
"If you let kid's follow their hearts and let them experience their own ideas and concepts, they are going to do it and they are going to do it without fear," Cadenhead said.
So Cadenhead started researching ways to help children become more business savvy. That's when she stumbled upon the Acton Children's Business Fair, which provides resources and tools for entrepreneurial kids all across the world. Cadenhead and Mays were able to start metro Birmingham fair through Acton and soon after, they were asking for applications from kids who wanted to be in their first fair. About 16 kids signed up.
The kids explored their imaginations to pick a product or service they wanted to sell. The kids were also given a business plan template created by the Acton fair to set goals, describe ways to achieve those goals and learn about finances. Other handouts detailed where kids could design logos and purchase their own business cards. The kids were also encouraged to do their own videos for marketing purposes.
Cadenhead believes teaching kids these techniques can help them become more independent in the business world.
"We weren’t sure if there was a conversation going on besides growing up, finishing school, going to college, getting a job and following a traditional path," Cadenhead said. "We're not suggesting that the kids don't go to college, but we are suggesting that they can have more control over their own path in entrepreneurship versus just getting a traditional job."
The metro Birmingham fair was supposed to be a once a year event, Cadenhead said. But after the first fair drew a crowd of about 300 people, Mays and Cadenhead decided to do at least two fairs a year at different cities in Jefferson County. About 26 kids participated in the fair in Bessemer in October.
The increase of participation shows that kids don't mind challenges.
"They might not say it, but kids like their parents to be on them about certain things," Cadenhead said. "They liked being challenged."
That's why it is important not to depress a child's inventiveness, Cadenhead said. While organizing the second fair, she said she heard a son tell his mom that he wanted to build rockets for the fair. Cadenhead said the mother told her son to make something simple, like lemonade, instead. Cadenhead they could have turned the son's imagination into reality by using rocket model kits or drawings.
"Adults are more likely to talk about what can't be done, than what can be done," Cadenhead said. "We don't want to discourage the kids' creativity and tell them no just because we adults don't see what they see."
Not all children are required to sell something that they can make, Cadenhead said. Some of the children's business consist of buying items wholesale.
Abigail Silmon was eight when she asked her mom about starting her own fashion business called Absolutely Abbey. She noticed that people were consistently complimenting her style, which consist of tights and accessories that are as colorful and bright as Silmon's personality. Silmon buys the clothing in bulk and sells it at the fair and through her Facebook page. Silmon was able to make a little over $500 after participating in both fairs.
Abigail, who is now nine, said her favorite part of the fair is getting to know people so she can help them find their style.
"I started Absolutely Abbey because when I went to the stores I didn't really see what I want," Silmon said. "What I like about fashion is that you can be yourself and be creative."
As the Metro Birmingham Children's Business Fair goes into its second year, Cadenhead said the nonprofit has already grown so much. This year the organization chose three children to play leadership roles on the fair's junior board. Although Cadenhead is still looking for a venue for the October fair, another fair has already been scheduled at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in July. If you would like to register your child for the business fair, please click here.
In the far future, Cadenhead said she wants to be able to pair each child with a mentor, conduct more in-depth business plan workshops and maybe establish partnerships in the community to help the kids' parents start their own businesses as well.
“The outlook for this is so huge, powerful and needed for these kids,” Cadenhead said. “If we can give them that instruction, if we can find that mentor, if we can find that encouragement for these kids at such a young age, let’s do that.”