ABRAM-VILLAGE – July 16, 2019 – An impressive record of 28 young Francophones from across the province have established 18 small summer business, thanks to the Jeunes millionnaires (Young Millionaires) program managed by RDÉE Prince Edward Island.
« Our Young Millionaires this year come from the West Prince, Evangeline, Rustico, Charlottetown and Souris regions, » says Stéphane Blanchard, RDÉE PEI’s youth development officer who oversees the program. « They offer a wide range of products, some aimed at children and youth, others at the general public and tourists.”
Blanchard points out that in some cases, the young people produce their own wares; in other cases, they buy existing products in bulk and sell them in smaller quantities.
On sale this year: bath products, toys, souvenirs, jewelry, ornaments, candles, greeting cards, treats, vegetables and even stress balls and reusable bags.
The supervisor says he is impressed not only by the variety of products offered but also by the imagination of the young participants. He loves the names they give their companies. For example, a business called, in French, “Mermaid’s Sea Glass” sells greeting cards decorated with sea glass, while “It’s Our Planet” sells reusable shopping bags et “A Little Bit of Water” sells water bottles.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The Young Millionaires Program was conceived to promote entrepreneurship among youth aged 8 to 16 years and, of course, to give them an opportunity to earn a bit of money. At the start of the summer, the youth had the opportunity to attend three workshops to learn the basics of entrepreneurship, including business plans, market studies, customer service, quality control, budgets and other related topics. They then had to present their business plan to program leaders during an individual interview.
Each participant then received a grant – up to $100 for individuals and $150 for partnerships – to help establish his or her business and to purchase production materials. (The amount given to each business depends on the budget received for the year, the number of participants who will benefit from a grant and various other factors.) In late June and early July, the youth started producing and selling their products, sometimes with the help of their parents.
The program’s coordination team, which includes Sophie Duguay, Frédérique Guillemette and Stéphanie Arsenault, prepared a list of activities, events and festivals where the participating youth can go to sell their products. In addition, the participants also identify supplementary sales locations, often in their own home, neighborhood or community.
RDÉE PEI coordinates the delivery of the Jeunes millionnaires program, the French version of the Young Millionaires Program, which, in turn, is managed provincially by the Central Development Corporation.
“We are wishing great luck to all of our Young Millionaires and we are encouraging people from the public to do their part to encourage our budding entrepreneurs by purchasing their products,” concludes Blanchard. “Last year, we only had 17 francophone Young Millionaires, but they attained record sales of $15,000 and record profits of $8,000. We’re hoping that this year’s crew will maintain that amazing momentum.”
Here is a list of this summer’s participants, along with their business and products.
WEST PRINCE BUSINESSES
• Sofie Arsenault : Sunflower Scrunchy – Hair scrunchies
• Neveah Dutcher and Brianne Gallant-Gordon : Stress Relief – Stress balls
• Callie Campbell : PC PEI Treasures – Glass bottles containing sand
EVANGELINE BUSINESSES
• Abigail MacWilliams and Storm Adams : SA Stuff – Muscle relief products and bracelets
• Abby Hardy and Jolène Gallant : J&A Cool Crafts – Painted rocks, slime, pompoms, decorated seashells
• Payton Arsenault and Emma Baglole : Smarties – Bath bombs, seaglass pictures, perfume and lipscrub
RUSTICO BUSINESSES
• Anderson Gallant : Andy’s Homegrown Beets – Yellow beets
CHARLOTTETOWN BUSINESSES
• Ariane Arsenault and Delphine Corney : C’est notre planète – Reusable bags
• Arielle Folkes : Le verre de mer de la sirène – Greeting cards decorated with sea glass
• Blanche Etkin-Blake and Emily Holmes : LIT! Candles – Candles
• Kayley and Chloe Willis : Bracelets fous – Bracelets
• Ellen and Erin Fraser : Simply Sno-Cones/Simply Squeez’d – Snow cones and lemonade
• Harmony Needham : Mrs. Freeze – Fruit-flavored frozen treats
• Jackleene Al-Kabalan andSophie Hews : Le Slime de Jacky et Sophie – Slime
• Josée Doyle : J + J Vegetables and Plants – Plants and vegetables
• Rémi Stevula : Little Island Treasures – Survival bracelets, fridge magnets and wooden keychains
• Victor Corney : Une Petite affaire d’eau – Water bottles featuring the Acadian flag
SOURIS BUSINESS
• Marc and Renée Chapman: Chapman’s Firewood – camp firewood.
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CUTLINE 1 : This summer, Abby Hardy, left, and Jolène Gallant from J&A Cool Crafts are making and selling painted rocks, slime, pompoms and decorated seashells, thanks to the French edition of the Young Millionaires Program.
CUTLINE 2: Storm Adams, partner in the SA Stuff Business, sells bracelets and muscle relief products. Here, this participant in the French edition of the Young Millionaires Program is seen at the recent sidewalk sale in Summerside.
For more information :
Stéphane Blanchard
Youth Development Officer
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
902-370-7333, Ext. 402
stephane@rdeeipe.org