CHARLOTTETOWN – Nov. 24, 2015 – This past summer has been without a doubt the best sales season ever for “Jeunes millionnaires”, the francophone edition of the Young Millionaires program. “Our 20 young entrepreneurs, who established 17 small businesses, attained record sales of about $12,000!” proudly proclaims Stéphane Blanchard, youth development officer with RDÉE Prince Edward Island.
This sales figure is even more impressive when one realizes that total sales in 2013 were $5,000 and in 2014 were $7,500.
Blanchard attributes this past summer’s high level of success to several important factors. First of all, this year, organizers were able to get two program coordinators, one in the East of the province and one in the West (shared with the Youth Services Co-op) to help the youth with their projects. Secondly, some of the participating youth were returning for a second year and some for a third year, meaning they had more experience and more time to perfect their production, promotion and sales methods.
“Again this year, the participants’ parents played a key role in the success of the program since they are the ones who supervise the youth on a daily basis as they produce their goods, they help them obtain their raw materials and they provide the transportation to many of the locations they have to go to sell their products,” adds the development officer.
The business having attained the most sales again this year was Simply Sno-Cones, owned and operated b Michael MacEwen and Elliott Fraser of Charlottetown. They literally sold thousands of cones of flavoured ice at numerous PEI locations.
“In their third year with the program, they once again proved that they are master salesmen and that they are really serious about their business,” said Blanchard. “They’ve really got the entrepreneurial gift. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them a few years down the road with a highly successful business out in the real world.”
Other success stories from this summer:
• Lafun by Nico Durant, who produced various types of toys (including stilts) as well as T-shirt kits;
• Cormier’s Candies by Ian Cormier, who sold bags of candies and various treats and contributed a portion of his earnings to various charitable organizations and hospitals;
• Stix and Stones by Mélodie Jordan, who made decorations with shells and sea pebbles.
Whatever the type of product sold, all the participants had the opportunity to acquire experience in planning, production, customer service, promotion and accounting – themes they learned about during workshops provided to them at the start of the season.
Again this year, RDÉE Prince Edward Island delivered the provincial Jeunes millionnaires program, which is the French version of the Young Millionaires Program managed provincially by the Central Development Corporation. The program is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Innovation PEI.
Each participant 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 coordinators helped the youth participate in a wide array of community events, festivals and celebrations throughout the summer. Among the more profitable events they attended were the Jeux de l’Acadie Finals in Charlottetown and the Canada Day festivities in North Rustico.
At the end of the season, an evening of celebration was held for the participating youth. They got an opportunity to share about their summer entrepreneurial adventures.
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CUTLINE 1: During the wrapup celebration night for the francophone edition of the Young Millionaires Program, the participants each received a certificate of recognition. Among the recipients were, from left, Olivia Lewis, Ian Cormier, Michael MacEwen, Elliott Fraser and Jacob Doyle. They’re seen here with Stéphane Blanchard, youth development officer with RDÉE Prince Edward Island.
CUTLINE 2: Nico Durant and his Lafun business.
CUTLINE 3: Mélodie Jordan and her Stix and Stones.
For more information:
Stéphane Blanchard
Youth development officer
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
902-370-7333, Ext. 402
stephane@rdeeipe.org