Meet these young entrepreneurs making their own summer jobs

When St. Thomas sisters Emery and Hannah Hynes asked for soap and candle-making supplies for Christmas, they never expected the new hobby would turn into their first business venture.

This summer, their shea butter soap and soy wax candle business, The Hannery, will be among the youth-run booths set up at a weekly young entrepreneur's market in Aylmer, Ont.

"It was just a hobby at first, and then we decided that we wanted to try to sell it and get into these markets. We started and it kind of became an actual 'thing,'" Hannah, 12, said.

"It's exciting because we know that it's just a really small business, and it's something that we made," she added. "I'm glad [when] somebody else wants to have it and use it, instead of it just being us."

The third annual youth market is happening every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout July and August at the Aylmer Sales Arena and Farmers Market on 51 Murray St.

Kids and teens under 18 years of age can pay $10 for table space, for as many weeks as they want, said market owner Stephanie Lensink. With the exception of food, vendors can sell anything from handmade products to used clothes and toys.

"I always wanted to start something in the summertime for kids," Lensink said. "I'm a mom and my son likes to create things, and there wasn't anywhere that kids were able to come for a really low price to set up to sell, and just try."

Tuesday's market featured five youth businesses, alongside some regular grown-up vendors sprinkled around the outer edge of the building. In previous years, Lensink said, they've had up to 12 vendors a day and 40 different businesses total over the summer season.

She said returning vendors, like the Hynes sisters who had a table last year, have an opportunity to grow their confidence as businesspeople throughout the market.

"I was just blown away by how much they grew just over the summer," she recalled. "It was really sweet to see shy girls at the beginning of the season, and by the time they were done, they would engage with anybody."

Friends Maya Di Lullo, Grace Detzler and Paisley Detzler have a shared table to sell handmade bracelets, keychains, earrings and second-hand toys.

"I feel that when I'm selling, I can help me and I can also help other people get stuff that they love and they would like to wear," Di Lullo, 8, said.

Parents of the young vendors say running a business has been a good way for their children to stay busy, be creative and learn life skills over the summer.

"Who knows, maybe after college this could be a real business," said the Hynes sisters' mom, Nancy Fitch. "They joke that one day they want to rent out the old Costco factory. Maybe they'll be that big one day."

There are still tables available for young entrepreneurs on Tuesdays throughout the summer, and Lensink said she plans to expand the market as interest grows.