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The Lemonade Stand- Arizona Kids Help Cool the Summer

By
Real Estate Agent with Chuck Willman 9334967-SA00

Lemonade Stand

The Lemonade Stand:

As we were building our home several years ago I asked my daughter what she thought of the location.

"It'll make a great place to sell lemonade!" she said.

Within a week she had her stand set up in the front yard and... turns out, she was right.

I marveled at her ability to grasp commerce. First there was lemonade... then lemonade plus fresh squeezed oranges. Orange slices were added to the collection as were otter pops, water and other items.

Then they placed signs near the street that fed into the subdivision.

I noticed that she liked to see the different ways that she could make her stand more popular. She also became good at learning the best times of day to open and close shop.

Though she enjoyed having money of her own she seemed less interested in what she would spend it on. I was very happy to see that she enjoyed the experience more than the profits.

I like to think that we all run a lemonade stand of our own. We choose products or services that our customers will find most beneficial. Sure, there's a profit motive- the stand would stay in storage if the service proved unpopular. Above all, I enjoyed my daughter's attitude. She enjoyed herself most when she made her customers happy.

Inc. Magazine has a series they call, "The Best Lemonade Stand in America". If my daughter were younger I'm sure she would want to enter. A local boy from Gilbert is one of the newest winners. Check out his story here:

Gilbert Boy has Best Lemonade Stand of the Week.

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Chuck Willman helps people find and sell properties in Phoenix and metro area cities of Arizona.

480.292.0600 - www.AZvest.com

Comments(12)

Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Ohhh that brings back memories............maybe a 'sales' predisposition is genetic?...smile.........I miss those years ..........great signage by the way!  :-)

Jul 19, 2008 07:32 AM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

Liz- I think there may be some predisposition... I have to say my kids are more born naturals than I ever was... my goodness the frights that this stuff gave me. I'll probably blog about my childhood sales experiences some day.

Jul 19, 2008 07:42 AM
Debra Kukulski, Broker Associate
RE/MAX Suburban - Cary, IL
SRES;SFR,CDPE;GRI;ABR;e-PRO Realtor, Northern IL

It looks like she has learned a few things from her Daddy:-)  The best is that she enjoys the experience and making her customers happy....she is a very lucky girl to learn this so early in life!  This story is just prescious and so is your daughter, Chuck!

Jul 19, 2008 09:45 AM
Rich Dansereau
Positive Real Estate Professionals - Knoxville, TN

I loved having a lemonade stand as a kid! I even branched out and switched to selling red-ear slider turtles my friends and I would catch in the lake. Those were fun times!

Jul 19, 2008 03:23 PM
Mara Hawks
First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL
Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

I really enjoyed this post, and what a cute & colorful pic! I would have been in heaven with a stand like that. It's adorable! In addition to  lemonade, I remember selling homemade popcorn, measured into wax bags, and oatmeal cookies... I loved the recent comment about offering red-ear slider turtles at the lemonade stand LOL!

Jul 19, 2008 03:43 PM
Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate

That is so fun that Inc. magazine has a top lemonade stand award!!!  Your daughter sounds like a real go getter!  Maybe she will follow in Dad's footsteps?  My kids love having koolaid stands too!

Jul 19, 2008 04:46 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Why is it that you're typing this long long post.............just about finished when that darn vista circle starts its dance and pouff the comment is gone!  Hmmm I'll rethinkit again tomorrow...

Jul 19, 2008 06:53 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

What a fun post, Chuck! I love your daughter's lemonade stand:) I remember those days. My 5 year old son draws pictures and sells them. He says he is going to be an artist and a scientist. He sells his drawings to his older sisters and brothers. ( of course to mom and dad too).

Jul 19, 2008 07:09 PM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate

Like father, like daughter...  I love the way she thinks! 

I love you recognizing her genius.  That, aside from everything else here, which is GREAT, is the GREATEST!

Understanding your children's unique qualities and aptitudes and publicly recognizing them AND supporting them, helps your kids stay on their own unique paths and follow their hearts to become that which they were intended to become.  It is a parent's greatest achievement.

When Alex was a small child he used to play incessantly with his tiny, plastic soldiers and as soon as he could read he studied about history and the military.  I used to get him these huge, laminated maps of the world, so he could move his military troops (yes he had hundreds of those tiny soldiers; it was remarkable to watch).  Whatever his interest, I always recognized it and supported it. 

I have intense aversion to war and anything military, so it was not an easy task for me to keep my own views out of the way, but I did.  This is what he liked.  He is now a Marine Officer, having graduated from THE Citadel magna cum laude.  Even though I cringed, I gave him my blessing AND I cringed inside only.  I still brag about him every chance I get (like right now, see?).

Your kids are very lucky to have you as their father!

Jul 20, 2008 03:35 AM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

Debra- Is there anything more American than the lemonade stand? I wonder how many of us learned our first lessons this way.

Rich- I would have been first in line for the turtles!

Mara- You’re making me so hungry… and wax bags even… I forgot all about those!

Pam- This was one of Inc. magazines better concept pieces. The kids submit their reports and wow… what great idea people they are. I predict big things for them.

Liz- Bummer! Now I’m very curious… can you remember what you were going to say?

Katerina- I’m glad you liked it. It appears we both have out own little capitalists with creative ideas. 

Mirela- I wish I had her talent. During one of her lemonade days an 18 wheeler pulled up. I was wondering if that gave her ideas for expansion. Nope… I wasn’t expecting her to create a truck stop. By the way... I think I may have shared this with you already... but did you know I was recruited by the Citadel? I looked at the requirements and couldn't see myself being able to spend my college years with such discipline. I admire him for that- his commitment is tremendous... my gratitude goes out to everyone who is so willing to serve.

Jul 20, 2008 10:28 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

That's so cute... she's a natural born entrepeneur.  You must have taught her the pleasure of making happy clients.

Jul 20, 2008 03:32 PM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

Georgina- She seemed to pick that up on her own. I'm glad she's a self-starter... this is one of those things best learned as opposed to having it thrust upon you.

Jul 23, 2008 12:19 PM