School to Career will host three after-school “Get Ready” meetings.  Community mentors will help you learn about how to launch your business, figure out your product offerings, establish prices, and more.

Try these websites to get started:
http://www.alittlecraftinyourday.com/2013/08/12/teen-crafts-that-arent-stupid/
http://www.momsandcrafters.com/12-cool-crafts-for-teens/
https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=teen%20crafts
https://www.joann.com/projects/

No, this is a special case where you will not need a business license.

The markets are donating space to Teen Market participants, providing tents, and helping set them up and take them down. There is no fee to participate – but please make sure to go out of your way to show the market organizers that you are happy and grateful for all of their support!

Yes, you can partner with other students, but not with adults (you are not allowed to sell your mom’s art at your booth, for example). All partners will  need to complete the packet and attend the mentoring meetings as well as participate in all of the selected events. Please note your partnership on your application. If you have a sibling that you are partnering with, at least one sibling needs to be in high school.

Students will be selected on the basis of their business idea and completed paperwork. Please note that you may have a great idea, but if five students have the same idea, the selection committee will bend towards the strength of the paperwork and student letter.  We encourage you to have a backup plan so that you can change course if we have too much duplication.

You will be required to attend three mentoring meetings (4/14, 4/28, 5/19, 4:00pm-6pm) this spring to prepare for Teen Market.  Returning participants are only required to attend the dress rehearsal meeting on 5/19 but can attend more if they want. You will also need to allow time to create and maintain your inventory so that you have items to sell. We will help you figure out how to set your prices based on the time it takes you to make an item.

You will be asked to choose a set of  summer dates that you will can be available to sell in-person. Last summer, due to covid, the Tuesday Night Market was not open at all.  If the Tuesday Night Market is open this summer you may get as many as 5 in-person sales opportunities.  If they are closed down again, we will have fewer opportunities – the Aloha Community Market is on Thursday evenings, and the Hillsboro Farmers Market has space at the Saturday Market only.  You will be able to participate in the markets’ online pre-sales app, What’s Good.  – We will let our Teen Market participants know what’s going on as the situation develops. We will create our summer schedule based on your chosen dates and send it out so that students and parents can be confident in their plans. Hillsboro students may also have the opportunity to have a booth at the Proud to Be HSD Festival.

The Teen Market program has funding for a few $100 forgivable loans.  Each student or team can apply for a loan (one per team).  The money can be used to pay for tools or materials to build your inventory.  When you have made $100 in sales you will pay the loan back with no interest and the funds will be available for students next year. If you participate fully but don’t make that $100 back, we will forgive your loan and you will not need to return it.

Most likely, yes. This is a terrific way to get a jump on your senior year and owning your own business will look great on your resume!