Cove holds 2nd annual youth vendor market

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Copperas Cove’s youngest entrepreneurs displayed their creativity and skills at Saturday’s O.S.C.A.R.’s Market, selling a variety of hand-crafted products.
The Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce and the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (EDC) teamed up to host the 2nd annual Oscar’s Market which took place Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Ogletree Gap Park. 
The day featured 10 vendors—Sister’s Color Creations, Bella’s Beadz, Galactic Goodz, Inara’s Wonderland, Sweet Spirited Scrunchies, Lemon Squeezos, Food Cart Art, Knick Knacks & Fun, Pillbug Arts, and 2E Apothecary—set up shop around Ogletree Gap. 
The top three businesses received prizes. 3rd place winner Pillbug Arts received $100. 2nd place winner, Ben Cunningham with Galactic Goods, received $200 and a booth at Rabbit Fest. The 1st place winner, Bella’s Beadz, received $300 and a booth at Rabbit Fest, won by Bella’s Beadz. 
Each of the young entrepreneurs’ businesses were judged on their brand, pitch, feasibility of the business, aesthetics, gross sales, and more.
Prior to O.S.C.A.R.’s Market, the EDC held several classes to help the entrepreneurs prepare including classes on branding, creating a business plan, marketing and more.
“Everything they’ve done is hand-crafted…These kids are excited to be here,” said Diane Drussell, assistant EDC director. 
Drussell was impressed by the skills of the young businessmen and women saying, “These kids have got it going on.”
O.S.C.A.R.’s Market is named after chamber board member Michelle Rocha-O’Sullivan’s father. It’s also an acronym and stands for Operation Student and Community Advocate Readiness. 
“We have so many kids that are inspired by their own parents who are business owners and they wanted to be part of the business as well,” said Rocha-O’Sullivan. 
Rocha-O’Sullivan said that her father was a veteran and an entrepreneur. Her parents encouraged them to push themselves and do what made them happy and she wanted to give other children the same opportunities that she had.
Katrina Caywood (14), manned the Sweet Spirited Scrunchies booth selling a variety of cute and creative scrunchies with a variety of themes from popular characters, colors and color designs, animals, and more. They also came in a variety of materials including silk, velvet, minky, and more.
Caywood said that she was inspired after she got her braces and wanted to help relieve the financial burden on her family by helping earn some extra income. She said that she likes seeing her scrunchies making people happy too.
“It’s pretty awesome to see someone wearing my scrunchies and smiling,” said Caywood.
“I’m just proud that she was willing to help the family,” said Caywood’s mother, Kristal Caywood.
Many of the vendors had their families there to support them.
Four sisters, Kierstin (12), Jordyn (11), Ashlynn (9), and Janessa (7) Wheeler worked together to create Sister’s Color Creations which offered a variety of creative products.
“We all have fun stuff,” said Jordyn Wheeler. “We all got our hobbies together.”
“I like tinkering around with colorful things,” said Ashlynn Wheeler.
Their mother, Caitlin Wheeler said that her daughters really enjoy doing things together and worked well together to make their business a success. 
She said she liked that they learned about the hard work that goes into it and that they were able to see the profit at the end.