A Lemonade Stand Success Story

Young Entrepeneurs Earn Their Summer Vacation The Old Fashioned Way

by Dan Crawford

Song: Hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck getting' burnt and gritty.

I am on a mission with my coworker and photographer, Laurie, to get a human interest story. We're on Sullivan Street in Berlin, and a cool drink would hit the spot. That's when we find the Goulet children, armed with ice, plastic cups, and containers of lemonade. We observe that they have strategically priced their beverages at 75 cents, a little less than the price of a 12 ounce soda, and a little more than a generic brand of bottled water. Good business sense.

When asked why the business was started, Alyssa Goulet, age eight and half explains: "We are going to the beach, and we need money for the arcade." She shakes her oversized jar. "We're going to Maine on vacation. We've got this much, so far!"

We remark on the goodly sum. They have done well. The neighbors kept them busy, as did customers at the credit union around the corner, until noon on Saturday. They had clientele from the thirsty masses after services at the Community Baptist Church on Sunday.

Andre Goulet, age seven, explains to us that he is excited about his upcoming trip to the beach. "We will have our own money to spend, and we can use it for games or the other things."

The children's father, Andrew Goulet, Sr., steps in to give more detail about their vacation. "We're going to Old Orchard Beach, and there will be a water slide at our campground, another one at the beach, and then the arcades. I told the kids they should earn their own money, and then they would learn how to budget themselves." Dad had to admit he was impressed that they had made $75 in just three days.

I ask Andrew Goulet, age eight and a half, if he has any tips on making a small business succeed. "Tips!" he says pointing to the jar on the card table, "You're supposed to give me tips!"

Young Andrew demonstrates by action, rather than words.