Open for Business: Kids Do the Selling at Mocksville’s Young Entrepreneurs Event

on February 3, 2025
A group of seven young entrepreneurs stands under a canopy at an outdoor market in Mocksville. They are smiling and showing off wristbands. Tables and other vendors are visible in the background under blue and gray tents.
Austin “AJ” Imes’s booth for Walking Proof. Photo courtesy of Meika Imes.

Getting Started

Becoming a successful businessperson doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of dreams, practice, and dedication to forge a path to prosperity, something that the young entrepreneurs of Davie County know very well. 

Twelve talented kids and adults came together three years ago in downtown Mocksville for the town’s first Young Entrepreneur’s Event, where “kids do the selling.” Generously hosted by Skyline National Bank and The Station, the event boasted booths where kids sold their crafts–from handmade goods of woodworking, jewelry, and t-shirts to baked goods, cotton candy, and lemonade. 

On March 22nd this year, Skyline is hosting the Young Entrepreneur’s event again! Previous participants are excited to return, and new participants are invited to come out and get some business experience!

Black and white flyer titled "WANTED Young Entrepreneurs of Mocksville." It invites kids for a business event with a 10x10 booth on March 22nd, from 10-4. Ages 18 and under. Features young entrepreneurs selling their creations. Contact info and host details at the bottom.
Graphic courtesy of Dottie Graham.

Practice Makes Perfect

After the first event, the spirit of entrepreneurship in the kids persisted. Over the following two annual events, more kids participated, and even more customers showed up! Salem Taylor, owner of Salem & Co., founded her business when she was eight years old. As she’s grown up and uncovered her life goals, last year’s Young Entrepreneur’s Event was an opportunity to “come up with different ways to rebrand [her] business.” Salem said she asked herself, “How can I use [my business] to reach other people?”

Luckily for Salem and other young business owners, the Young Entrepreneurs event is an excellent opportunity to interact with their customer base and learn how to connect with people. 

At last year’s event, Mason Legault learned a valuable lesson about how to appeal to his customer base. In the weeks leading up to the event, Mason was busy crafting. He made tons of keychains and crochet projects by hand to sell at his booth, but at the event, he ran into an unexpected obstacle. A customer came by his booth, observed his work, and asked if he really made all the items he was selling. Mason said yes, he did. Like many crocheters before him, he learned the craft from a family member. Still, that wasn’t enough to convince the curious customer. However, Mason got an idea. He snagged some yarn from his car, picked up a crochet hook, and began to work on a project while he worked his booth. This drew in more customers who were eager to purchase his hand-crafted items! 

Learning opportunities like this one are an invaluable experience for young business owners. Developing a deep understanding of your customer base is something that takes years of practice, and there is no better time for young entrepreneurs in Davie County to start than now. 

At the Young Entrepreneurs Event in Mocksville, a group of four girls and three adults stands behind a table adorned with boxes of cookies for sale. They are outdoors against a brick wall, one girl sporting a blue vest. An American flag on a stick completes this scene of kids selling their delightful treats.
Davie County Girl Scouts Troop booth at the 2023 Young Entrepreneur’s Event. Photo courtesy of LeeAnn Taylor. 

“Kids do the selling!”

There are many ambitious kids in Davie County, and all are welcome! There is no cost to get a booth at the event. There are only two rules: sellers must be under the age of 18, and they must be willing to do the selling. Parents may accompany their children at their booths and help them as needed, of course, but it is the kids who are responsible for selling their product! 

This may sound intimidating, especially to new entrepreneurs who have yet to add this kind of experience to their resumés. But worry not! Salem Taylor found the confidence to sell her products when she saw that so many people [came] from around our area to support them. “I thought that it was really cool that even though the weather wasn’t great that day, still a lot of people came to show their support.” 

Many people from older generations in Davie County love to see what the younger generation is up to. They take the time to learn about each booth and the young entrepreneurs behind it. Be prepared to answer lots of questions, sellers. Davie County cares about what you’re up to!

Since mid-January, when word began to spread about the event, fifteen people have requested booths! Whether you’re a baker, a musician, a crafter, or something else, there is a space for you! The event has been expanding since its beginnings. Young musicians are invited to perform, and there is interest in inviting a local youth group to provide hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch!

Two musicians perform outdoors in Mocksville. A man in a cap plays guitar and sings into a microphone, while a woman beside him plays the violin. They're in front of a street with parked cars and a building labeled "Horn Oil Co." Nearby, young entrepreneurs showcase their creativity under the sunny sky.
Young musician performing in downtown Mocksville, 2023. Photo courtesy of LeeAnn Taylor.

I’m a Young Entrepreneur. What Should I Know? 

This event is a great opportunity to learn about business. From being sponsored by a local business to possibly earning several hundred dollars at your booth, participation in this event is a great experience that will help you grow your resumé and your business. Part of gaining experience is the willingness to share your knowledge with others so they can learn from your mistakes.

 Mason Legault encourages newcomers to the event to identify their goals and then plan accordingly. Since his goal was to make the most amount of money possible, he gave himself plenty of time to prepare so he could have lots of products to sell. Another young entrepreneur, Austin “AJ” Imes, is the owner of Walking Proof, an inspirational clothing line. He has similar advice: “Plan ahead and don’t wait until the night before the event.” Since AJ got an early start, he was able to advertise on his social media accounts about the event to bring in even more customers! 

People standing at an outdoor table under a tent, exchanging items in Mocksville. A woman in a pink sweater holds a mobile phone. A Skyline National Bank building and banners are visible in the background as young entrepreneurs and kids mingle at the event.
Photo courtesy of Meika Imes.

Know your purpose. Know your story. Customers who visit booths are interested in more than just the product. They want to know the reason why the product is for sale. AJ said, “I enjoyed telling my story to people who came by my booth!” Salem also emphasized the importance of making a lasting impact on her customers: “My whole business is about connecting with the people, especially since I use the money to sponsor people and build wells.” This is how you make your business memorable to your customers. Tell them your story. Get them invested.

Come out and sell!

Booths are free to young entrepreneurs ages 18 and under! All proceeds for the event go directly to the participants. If you want to participate or know someone who is a good fit for the event, email Dottie Graham at dgraham@skylinenationalbank.com to be considered. The deadline to sign up is March 14th!

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About Mikayla Hamilton

Mikayla Hamilton is a writer from Mocksville, NC. She is currently exploring her hometown for the Davie County Blog and working on her first novel. You can find her in a local coffee shop scribbling in one of her many notebooks.
Filed under  Mocksville • People • Things To Do