Ana Daisy and Isabelle Hayley were hard at work over the long weekend.
The two sisters were busy working on their products for their table — Anabelle’s Shop — for the second annual I Made It Market. Ana Daisy and Isabelle came up with the idea for Anabelle’s Shop by combining their names.
The market, which is cash only, will take place Saturday, May 27 at Arrowview Elementary School gym (650 Bennett Rd., Qualicum Beach). The market runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Their mom, Cherie Choma, said the two girls did most of the work on their products which include comic book wallets, t-shirt bags, homemade Play-Doh and stress balls.
Ana Daisy, a Grade 5 student, said their mom gave them the idea for the comic book wallets which feature Riverdale comics. Riverdale, Ana Daisy said, is her favourite TV show right now. It is based off the beloved Archie comics.
Ana Daisy said she’d made the t-shirt bags before in Girl Guides, so the sisters looked up how to make them and got to work. The t-shirts, she said, were bought from the SOS Thrift Shop. They had a budget of $2 and under for each product, she explained.
“I was just going to do that and the comic book wallets and then Isabelle was just going to do the Play-Doh and candy cups. Then we added two more things: the tattoo station and the stress balls.”
The homemade Play-Doh cups, Isabelle said, were made with food colouring, flour, salt, oil and water. But she said the candy cups are going to be the big seller for Anabelle’s Shop.
Choma said she bought the supplies for the girls, but they need to pay her back through their profits from the market. However, the most expensive item at Anabelle’s Shop is $4.
“The idea was trying to keep it (the prices) reasonable, so that everyone can afford to buy something as opposed to just trying to make a bunch of money,” Choma said.
She said the sisters decided to work together this year and split their profits for spending money for an upcoming trip to Australia at Christmastime.
While this is Isabelle’s first market, Ana Daisy said she participated last year. But Ana Daisy said she’s learned a few things since last year, such as how to make a profit.
“If you buy really good balloons for $10, but then price them for $2, you’re not making much profit,” said Ana Daisy. She also said she learned that she needed to make a lot of stock so she doesn’t run out, which can be time-consuming.
All of the items for sale at the market are handmade by Arrowview Elementary students. The children get to keep all the proceeds from the sale. This year, there are more than 30 students signed up from kindergarten to grade 7.
Other items being sold at the market include baked goods, preserves, soup, arts and crafts, candles, jewelry, body scrubs, knitting and sewing projects, pet treats, wood crafts and fidget spinners.
Joanne Falvai, whose son Mercer came up with the idea for the market last year, said organizers have encouraged parents and classroom teachers to use this market to teach children about costs, profits, economics and entrepreneurship.
“We’re hoping the students get a sense of just how much work goes into a small business,” said Falvai who is on the school Parent Advisory Council (PAC). “Setting up their displays, interacting with the public, describing their products and even making the changes on the day of the market also provide learning opportunities.”
The PAC will host a concession of pizza, drinks, popcorn and snacks with proceeds going back into the school.