Free samples, on sale today!
September 16, 2008 – 10:51 am
For most of the summer, CJ has been begging me to let him set up a lemonade stand.
This Sunday I gave in.
“First,” CJ tells me, “We need to make a sign. Mommy? How do you spell lemonade?”
After checking the internet to see if it is spelled lemon with an a-i-d or an a-d-e (it’s the latter), I write out LEMONADE in big block letters for CJ to copy.
“It looks like that,” I say, then start to write on the next line, “Ten… cents…”
“NO! NO NO NO! Mommy STOP!”
I freeze. ”What?”
“I want it to say ten MILLION dollars,” he announces.
My son, the budding entrepreneur.
I stifle a giggle. ”Well CJ,” I say diplomatically, “I kind of don’t think anyone would pay ten MILLION dollars for a cup of lemonade. That’s probably too expensive.”
CJ contemplates this for a moment and then nods, “Ok. Just a dollar.”
“How about ten cents?” I suggest.
He agrees.
We call CJ’s friend Parker to see if he’ll partner with CJ in this venture and soon the two boys are set up alongside the sidewalk with a big sign. I go inside to mix up the lemonade.
“COME TO OUR LEMONADE SERVICE!” they shout at everyone who comes in range. Within five minutes they’ve made five dollars, and they don’t even have any lemonade yet.
Hmm, there are POSSIBILITIES here…
We parents set up chairs on the lawn, sip coffee, and watch the show.
A young woman walks down the street and the boys accost her. “LEMONADE SERVICE! LEMONADE!’ They shout up at her. The woman nods agreement and the boys surround her, holding out eager hands to collect her money.
This is getting awfully close to a mugging, I whisper to Parker’s mom.
Fortunately the boys are cute and the woman is kind and she doesn’t call for the police. She collects her sticky glass of lemonade, hands them a dollar, and is on her way.
The next victim customer is a middle-aged woman, who doesn’t have any money. Or so she says.
After she leaves, I tell the boys, “If people don’t have money, you can offer them a FREE SAMPLE.”
“FREE SAMPLE!” shouts CJ, “Yeah!” he knows ALL about free samples from shopping at Costco.
“LEMONADE SERVICE! FREE SAMPLE!” they holler, and before long they’ve lured in a young couple with a baby who apparently think the boys are cute.
Oh the things I could tell them.
They agree to try a free sample and the boys pour two glasses of lemonade. After they’ve taken a drink, CJ shouts, “TEN CENTS!” and he and Parker hold out their hands to collect.
“CJ!” I shout, “You can’t make them pay for a free sample!”
Which, it turns out, is a difficult concept to get across to five year olds. Because they repeatedly use this bait and switch, selling free samples for ten cents. And I have to give it to them… as a marketing tactic, this works awfully well.
The lemonade stand holds the boys’ attention for a remarkably long time. But, after a couple of hours, they are climbing trees and wrestling on the ground. People walk by without being accosted.
Clearly it’s time to close up shop.
Which reminds me, I still have some left-over lemonade.
Anyone want a FREE SAMPLE?
I’ll sell it to ya for just $10 MILLION dollars.
Related Posts
Share
By Carrie on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Oh, so cute!
I think I only had a lemonade stand once as a kid. Unfortunately, it was when I was visiting a friend who lived in Monroe in the middle of nowhere. so not so much business. We should have tried the free sample idea!
Carries last blog post..Time to focus on marriage
[Reply to this comment]
By Tatiana on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Haha, love it! I used to ride my bike around the neighbourhood, sneak flowers out of people’s gardens, and then try to sell those flowers in my front yard. This didn’t work too well…
Tatianas last blog post..Tuesday’s Blog 01
[Reply to this comment]
By Doll Clothes Gal on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Sounds like they have good entrepreneurial skills. The day seems to be a success and a few lessons taught to boot.
Doll Clothes Gals last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - American Cat
[Reply to this comment]
By Jenny Henny on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
How cute!
Kind of reminds me of the Kirby vacuum sales guy that gets in your house by offering a free carpet cleaning….
Jenny Hennys last blog post..Deflated
[Reply to this comment]
By Valerie on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Too funny!! They definitely have a future in sales!!
Valeries last blog post..Mommy Guilt
[Reply to this comment]
By MommyTime on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
This is a great story. I kind of wish the sign DID say “$10 million,” though. As an experiment, you should make that sign for their next lemonade venture. I would definitely pay for a glass of lemonade from a kid whose sign demanded that much cash. But I’d set my own price — which seems to have been largely what everyone was doing anyway. I wonder if you make more money at a 10 cent or 10 million dollar lemonade stand… hmmm….
MommyTimes last blog post..When is a vacation at the beach not a vacation at the beach?
[Reply to this comment]
By Robyn on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
That is a great story! LOL I don’t look forward to that venture with my daughter, but I have a while since she is only 20 months old. lol
[Reply to this comment]
By Dr. Mom on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
My great-niece and her friend set up a lemonade stand, with great success. Someone stopped and asked if they had beer, so off she went into the house to get some beer out of granddad’s refrigerator–luckily she was stopped before the cops and the tax man showed up.
[Reply to this comment]
By Carrie on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
What a cute story! I was also surprised at how much cash people give to cute kids selling lemonade this summer . . . almost enough to let them do it everyday!
Almost. But not quite.
Carries last blog post..Let’s Vote!
[Reply to this comment]
By Kathleen on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Super duper wickedly funny…love the enthusiasm of budding business boys…
Kathleens last blog post..See Kathleen Tri
[Reply to this comment]
By Mrs. G. on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
I don’t think you’ve lived a full childhood until you’ve manned a lemonade stand. What fun.
Mrs. G.s last blog post..Bittersweet
[Reply to this comment]
By Rachael on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
If I had a million extra dollars, I would TOTALLY give it to you for your kid’s lemonade.
Rachaels last blog post..Movie Monday: The Women (suck)
[Reply to this comment]
By Dumblond on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
I didn’t know kids still did that nowadays…
I can see your little guy saying “10 million dollars” with his pinkie in his mouth ala Dr. Evil from Austin Powers. But he would be much cuter.
Dumblonds last blog post..Shifting focus
[Reply to this comment]
By Mombshells on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Love it! You’ve got to admire kids. The GREAT minds of tomorrow are visibly already in operation :) They just might be able to get their 10 million dollar asking price!
Mombshellss last blog post..Can’t Kindle The Fire For My Kindle: Why You Can’t Teach An Old-School English Major New Tricks
[Reply to this comment]
By HeatherY on Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
Too funny! I tried having a lemonade stand once. We lived in the middle of nowhere so I didn’t have too much luck. :-)
HeatherYs last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Summer’s End
[Reply to this comment]
By Debbie on Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
Cute story. You’ve certainly got a budding businessman there. Reminded me of those sweet days when mine tried in vain on our dead-end street to sell things.
[Reply to this comment]
By Alisa on Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
I love the story! I had a good laugh with this one!
[Reply to this comment]
By Jen on Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
That is the cutest story! But I have to ask you–what year do you think it is? 10 cents for a cup of lemonade? Are we in 1955? That seems awfully low to me. I’m glad the neighbors took pity on the poor kids and gave them more. I don’t think 10 cents would even pay for your supplies. :)
Jens last blog post..Where I’ll Be On November 21st
[Reply to this comment]
By Alex Elliot on Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
A couple hours?! I would pay you $10 for that cup of lemonade if my son could be involved in the stand and amused for a couple of hours!
Alex Elliots last blog post..2 Days on the Treadmill!
[Reply to this comment]
By Mother Musings on Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
How sweet! I always stop to buy whatever kids are selling but I’d have to agree that 10 Million is a bit steep for some lemonaide…
Sounds like they had fun with it.
Mother Musingss last blog post..Wordless Wednesday #38
[Reply to this comment]
By Robin on Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
I love this story! We are going to have a garage sale in a couple of weekends. We told the kids they get to keep any money they make off of their stuff. Their concept of what their old stuff will go for is quite unrealistic. But I love their enthusiasm! (Plus I get to get rid of a lot of junk!)
Robins last blog post..HO HUM
[Reply to this comment]
By Honey Mommy on Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
That is the cutest thing ever! They seem a little young for shifty business practices, but whatever works, right?
How much money did they end up making anyway?
Honey Mommys last blog post..Help Honey Mommy!
[Reply to this comment]
By M.Smith on Sep 19, 2008 | Reply
Wow! Cute post!! This gives me an idea for my boys. I have two of them and we live in a neighborhood that is full of kids there same age. My kids would love making and selling lemonade.
M.Smiths last blog post..The Honory Cat
[Reply to this comment]
By Angie @ Many Little Blessings on Sep 19, 2008 | Reply
Oh my! LOL I LOVE it!!! Thanks for the giggle!
Angie @ Many Little Blessingss last blog post..$119.25 spent for 51 items (aka Consignment Sales Rock!)
[Reply to this comment]