Sisters Lama Jafar, 14, and Leen Jafar, 11, both of Orland Park, stood behind a table filled with handmade crocheted plushies Saturday, proudly sharing their small business, LLJ Crochet, which they built one stitch at a time. The sisters brought their plushie startup to the Young Entrepreneurs Fair at Moraine Valley Community College on Feb. 7, joining dozens of young sellers turning creativity into commerce.
“This really gives us the opportunity to be creative,” Lama Jafar said. “It teaches the importance of creating and selling a product and making a business.”
The fair, sponsored by Moraine Valley’s NextGen Business Leaders Club, took place in Building M on the college’s campus and featured more than 50 booths operated by entrepreneurs ages 6 to 14. The free event offered handmade products and services to the public.
Among the participants was Maddie Jones, 14, of Lockport, owner of Sunflower Stitches. Jones said she began crocheting two years ago and was happy to share her handmade items with local customers while gaining experience selling her work in person.
Many of the participants were launching a business for the first time. The young entrepreneurs developed brands, set prices, marketed their products and interacted with customers, gaining a firsthand look at what it takes to run a business, even for just one day.
Students from Moraine Valley’s NextGen Business Leaders Club mentored the young business owners in the weeks leading up to the fair, helping them refine ideas and prepare for opening day. The experience allowed college students to apply what they have learned while encouraging creativity, innovation and financial literacy among the younger participants.
“This event introduces children to the world of business while building essential skills such as communication, pricing, identifying a target audience and goal setting,” said Lisa Mittler, advisor of the NextGen Business Leaders Club and a business professor at Moraine Valley. “This hands-on experience truly is priceless. NextGen Business Leaders Club and the Young Entrepreneur Fair are dedicated to inspiring our youth and developing important skills tomorrow’s business leaders need to succeed.”
Parents also watched with pride as their children interacted with customers and managed their booths. Paula DeAnda-Shah of Hickory Hills attended the fair to support her daughter, Selina, 8, who sold handmade bracelets.
“It’s exciting to see her take initiative and see her as a young entrepreneur,” DeAnda-Shah said.
The fair was supported by community partners including Pet City, the Arab American Business Association and Acton School of Business, along with several donors and volunteers who helped bring the event to life.
The lessons of the day were clear. The young entrepreneurs gained real experience, tested their ideas in front of customers and learned what it takes to stand behind their work. The fair showed that with guidance and opportunity, even the youngest business owners can think big and deliver.
