That’s right! Some times the best way to see marketing well done is by watching couple kids run a lemonade stand. Although you might disagree with my statement that children are marketing geniuses, it is true. We tend to ignore this fact simply because unlike grown adults they don’t have to try as hard and they just don’t. It comes to them naturally - the art of selling!

This post is based on an experiment that was run by Bob ( 14 years old ), one of the neighborhood children. The plan was to sell lemonades as you can figure that out from the title itself. It was pretty interesting to see how he successfully carried out this experiment and made money simply by working a lemonade stand. I had no hand in this experiment but Bob decided to share it with me while I was at the park. I was so fascinated by his approach I asked him to write an essay for me on how to sell lemonades and make money . He wrote one and I typed it here. Read it guys, this kid knows marketing and how to add value to an existing product.

Note: The first day he barely made money and the second day he hit the jackpot. He made 60 dollars, here is how in his own words :

My Lemonade Stand

At first I just had a table and nothing else to show people that I was selling lemonade. I mean the cups and lemonade jug was the only thing that showed people that I was selling lemonade. The next day I asked my dad to add a small wooden plank in front of the table. I wrote in big colorful letters “Thirsty? How About a Lemonade?” and at the bottom I wrote in small letters “get one now and if you come back the next one is on me.” This helped people notice more, especially people that were driving. So that’s one change I made.

Second, I sold cans of coke. It’s a lemonade stand but I though it wouldn’t hurt to sell cans of coke. I sold each can for a dollar. It was a hot day so I asked dad to hook up our small refrigerator and set it next to the garage. Selling coke was the best idea I think. Most of my money from lemonade stand came from selling coke which was awesome. It was like people mainly came for lemonade and bought one and then they bought coke too.

Third, I put some dog treats in a basket on the table. I started selling lemonade around 3 PM in the afternoon. A lot of people in our neighborhood go out after work to take their dogs for walks. I had a little paper that was cut out like the shape of a bone and I wrote dog treats on it and set it right infront of the basket. Everyone walking their dog stopped and while grabbing a free treat grabbed a coke or lemonade as well. That really helped a lot to sell cokes and lemonades as well. Ohh and I also set a big bucket of water next to the stand for dogs to drink water.

And fourth, I sold lemonades in to go cups. I didn’t know we could buy to go cups. This was my mom’s idea so I can’t take the credit for it. To go cups were a huge hit. I think it was easy for people to take it with them. I will do it again, it was lots of fun and now I have the money to go to Valley Fair.

End

note: Valley Fair is an amusement park in Shakopee, Minnesota.

There it is. What do you think? I would just like to remind you that 60 dollars might not be a lot of money, but that amount is simply amazing considering it came from a lemonade stand within 4 hours. That’s 15 dollars an hour…. pretty good for a 14 year old, working from home.

I personally think for being so young, he knew exactly what he was doing. I am not sure if he got any help besides the “To Go Cup” idea from his mom, but if he didn’t he has cracked marketing down pretty good. he knew exactly the value of coke as an added benefit to selling lemonade. However, he still sold lemonade to show the traditional aspect of kids selling lemonades. He analyzed his potential customers, who were mostly people who would take their dogs out for a walk ( we live near a park ). Dog treats and water was a free incentive that allowed him to pull all the dog walkers. And finally what do you think about that slogan? - “Thirsty? How About a Lemonade? get one now and if you come back the next one is on me.” He knew that the people walking their dog would come back …. water, treat and he added an extra bonus - a free lemonade. How many people actually take a free lemonade from a kid running a lemonade stand? Not too many.

I am glad to have known him for years. I have lived in this neighborhood for 5 years and it sure as heck is going to be fun watching Bob grow.

Thanks for the lesson Bob .

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