When the business plan gives you lemons...

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  • A child interacts with an adult at Lemonade Day
    A child interacts with an adult at Lemonade Day
  • Charlotte Chick at Lemonade Day
    Charlotte Chick at Lemonade Day
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Lemonade Day, a national movement introducing young entrepreneurs to the realization of business ownership, will take over communities throughout the U.S. – and Southeast Texas – on May 1. The local Lemonade Day effort, spearheaded through the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce with the collaboration of a host of sponsors and participants, is currently accepting enrollment for the program at
www.lemonadeday.org/jefferson-county.

According to event organizers, Lemonade Day teaches youth how to start their own business uniting local government, commercial enterprise, community members, schools and youth organizations around one common goal.

“Our program ignites the entrepreneurial spirit in youth, empowers them with life skills, business skills and the mentorship necessary to be successful,” the call to join details. Also, the literature explains, “It’s really fun!”

With the Port of Beaumont as presenting sponsor, Lemonade Day officially kicked off in Southeast Texas on March 8, with a celebration and goodie giveaway held at the Beaumont Children’s Museum. In addition to the swag, sweet treats and business model encouragement in abundance at the celebration, young entrepreneurs were also able to sign up for future events to help them cultivate their product before the “big day,” such as a sales pitch and tasting competitions scheduled for April.

The local effort is made in accordance with National Lemonade Day, started by Michael Holthouse of Houston in 2007. Today, he and LemonadeDay.org are partnered with Google to continue to bring the entrepreneurial spirit to the youth of America, and the movement is even featured on the National Day Calendar.

Likewise in the spirit of the national movement, the days leading up to Lemonade Day locally are full of preparation by small, but budding, entrepreneurs. They attend workshops, designate a portion of their profits to philanthropy, create a menu, check sales stock, scout locations … everything necessary to run a successful business – even if it is just for one day.

Past events have seen young entrepreneurs clearing hundreds of dollars each at stands throughout the area. Customers are happy to patronize, and the young business owners are happy to oblige. After the event, all the young business moguls come together to celebrate with an awards party, traditionally held at Urban Air in Beaumont.

Lemonade Day Jefferson County’s 2021 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year was Charlotte Chick, who operated the successful venture, Lemon Squeezy. Charlotte wanted to participate in Lemonade Day because she wanted to buy a Barbie Dream House and her mom said she would have to earn the money on her own.

“She had seven different simple syrups so her customers could chose their own flavor,” the award announcement specified. “With the help of her dad, she made lemon pancakes for the morning and mozzarella, arugula and lemon pizza for the afternoon. In addition to food and drinks, she also had handmade soaps and earrings for sale. Her mom showed her how to make a flyer and they handed those out to her neighbors and daycare. She also made videos to post on social media to help promote her stand.”

Charlotte is already on board for Lemonade Day 2022, as well, serving a fresh cup of lemonade to kickoff celebration attendees on March 8. She anticipates serving up a few more cups of the good stuff on May 1, along with hundreds of other Southeast Texas youths. For a map of where to find the stands on Lemonade Day, visit www.lemonadeday.org/jefferson-county.