Pounding the Pavement

In business, location is everything. Before we lived in this neighborhood, we lived in a cul-de-sac at the bottom of a steep hill. The traffic in the circle was rare. I loved it. My kids felt our home's placement had a major flaw. Lemonade stands were impossible. Having a successful stand would require walking a block uphill whilst hauling all the necessary equipment and sustenance. Furthermore, this business would require one’s mother to sit with the children in the hot sun all day a block away from the house. Kate’s weekly lemonade stand idea would get consistently squashed before it ever hit the planning stage.

Naturally, when we moved one of the first things Kate noticed about the neighborhood was the lemonade stand accessibility. She and Aaron have done many stands. The first stand of this spring was a hit. The preparation, of course, is as much fun as the execution.
“Okay, Mom, we’ve made our sign. Do you think we could make some flyers to take around, too?”
“Sure. I’ll cut some paper in half and everyone can make their own flyers to take around.” They begin to work on the flyers. I read their sign. “Ice and straws? You’re charging for ice and straws?” Anya, the neighbor girl, giggles.

Kate ignores the giggle, and seriously replies, “Oh yeah. I think it will really work. ‘Cause Mom, we’ve got a really good business going here.”

“Check you out, you entrepreneur, you!”

Kate finishes her flyer. She instructs the four little girls at the table, “Everyone finish their flyers and take them around. Anya and I are going to finish setting up the table.” I get out a tablecloth for them and hand Kate some tape. “Thanks, Mom,” she says, “But when are you going to make the lemonade? We need it soon!” Whew! What a taskmaster (don’t know where she gets that)!

They had a great time and made $15.65 divided five ways, so $3.13 a kid. This is certainly not their most profitable afternoon. Although the location was ideal, it’s a good thing they made extra off the ice and straws.