Kids Markets, a youth-run pop-up market that helps children operate small businesses, is looking to expand into southeast Mississippi and the Gulf Coast by partnering with existing community events, including farmers markets.
Trista Allain, who manages Kids Markets events in the New Orleans area, said the goal is to connect with local Mississippi organizers and build the program by adding youth vendors to established markets and community gatherings.
Allain said giving children the chance to run their own booths helps them practice real-world skills and build confidence as young entrepreneurs.
“The goal for these kids in the long run is to give them the opportunity to see what it’s like to have lifelong experiences, money management, communication skills,” Allain said. “It helps them to build that as a general foundation for them going forward into adulthood.”
Kids Markets is a farmers market run entirely by children ages 5-17, with vendors selling a variety of goods, including food, drinks, handmade crafts and jewelry, according to the organization’s website. The group started in 2017 in Utah and has expanded to 360 cities, with 80,000 youth entrepreneurs participating.
Families who already attend Kids Markets said they would consider traveling to Mississippi if markets are launched there.
Jayde Pinestraw, 13, of Hammond, Louisiana, was one of the vendors at a Kids Markets event March 28 at the Mandeville Trailhead Community Farmers Market in Mandeville, Louisiana. She helped sell baked treats at her family’s booth, The Cake Drop LLC.
Jayde said being able to sell at Kids Markets has given her a boost in confidence and helped her connect with other vendors her age.
“My favorite part is getting to meet new people and interacting and being more confident with talking to people,” Jayde said.
Her father, Jarrad Pinestraw, said the markets have had a positive impact on his children by pushing them to interact with people and practice skills that they carry beyond the booth.
“This is actually our maybe fifth or sixth market with the Kids Market, and I think it’s helped tremendously with their confidence,” Jarrad said. “Before we started, they were very shy, but now they have more people skills. They learn to be more independent, and they also learn how to communicate in general with other people.”
Jarrad said that if Kids Markets expands into Mississippi, his family would be interested in attending those markets to grow The Cake Drop.
Allain said the current goal is to find and partner with local Mississippi events to help Kids Markets gain traction. Residents can find future Kids Markets locations and more information by visiting the Kids Markets Facebook page or the organization’s website.
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