Kids show off their business skills with OSCAR’s Market

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Copperas Cove celebrated its youngest entrepreneurs last weekend with the annual OSCAR’s Market.

Open to entrepreneurs 18 or younger, six groups participated in this year’s OSCAR’s Market Saturday at the Taste of Cove Food Truck Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. This year’s kids sold a variety of homemade goods. Some sold food and/or snacks such as lemonade and cookies while others sold crafts such as bracelets and earrings. Some sold both.

OSCAR’s Market is named after Michelle O’Sullivan’s father, and it is also an acronym which stands for Operation Student and Community Advocate Readiness. She said that her father was a veteran and an entrepreneur who inspired her, and she wants to give other kids the same opportunities that she had.

Prior to OSCAR’s Market, the kids are able to participate in a variety of classes run by the EDC which teach thing things like marketing and planning. They learn how to come up with their business model based on what products they might like to sell, helping them to come up with branding ideas, a name and design for their business, and more.

“They learn what it takes to run a business,” said O’Sullivan. “These are our future business entrepreneurs.”

The first-place finisher received $500 and a free spot at the upcoming Krist Kindl Markt. Second place received $300 and a free spot at KKM. Third place received $200.

Mia Powell (11) and Riley Powell (9) brought back Llama Lemonade (from Lemonade Day) and added a Halloween twist. They added inventory, still selling their lemonade and chocolate chip cookies but added pumpkin cookies and handmade Fall/Halloween themed bracelets. They also modified their business logo to be a “spooky edition”.

“We brought back Llama Lemon, but we added pumpkin cookies and bracelets,” said Riley Powell. “We’re doing pretty good.”

The two said that they had enjoyed Lemonade Day and wanted to improve on their business model. One of their big improvements was in their packaging, now serving their lemonade in bottles. The Powell sisters said that they wanted to donate some of their profits. They ended up being the third place finishers. 

“Some of our money is going again this year to the Police Department’s toy drive,” said Mia Powell. “We want to make sure kids this year have presents.”

First time entrepreneur, Anberlin Esparza (11) ran The Fun House where she sold handmade bead trinkets. For her business model, she sold the earrings as part of separate collections with each featuring a room in the house such as the Office Collection which includes school supplies like pencils and crayons, Backyard Collection which includes various types of plants, the Kitchen Collection which includes food and snacks, and more.

“I like making things and I think it’s fun, so I came up with Fun House,” said Esparza. “I just think they’re cute.”

Esparza said that she plans to use the money that she earns to buy more supplies so that she can make more crafts. She said that she enjoyed attending the classes offered by the EDC.

“I learned how to set up and how to make my own logo,” said Esparza.

She ended up taking first place. 

“Sew Cute”‘took second place. 

Star Kendrick and five of her family members attended the event after seeing it situated near the Farmer’s Market. She had purchased a towel and some juice and was looking to possibly purchase more items.

“They’re so cute,” said Kendrick. “I love it. It gives them the confidence that they need.”

Vonya Hart, Mayor Pro Temp, was on hand at the event to support the children and was recruited to be a reviewer. As a reviewer, Hart visited each vendor to see how knowledgeable each of the young entrepreneurs was about their business and their products scoring things like product knowledge, marketing effectiveness, their business plan, and more. She said that she really loved the OSCAR’s Market and how encouraging it is to children.

“I love any type of opportunity that reaches out to our children and that maximizes on any gift they have to share,” said Hart. “It lets them know how wonderful they are and how much potential they have.”