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Bugs for sale

By Becky McCray

Young entrepreneurs are our future. Rural young entrepreneurs, however, can be just a little different. Here’s a new twist on the old lemonade stand idea:

@LizaJne tweeted: the boys are out in the yard selling frogs, slugs, grasshoppers and other bugs. they’ve already made $6.00!

Lessons you can learn:

  • Don’t believe the grownups who tell you an idea won’t work. (I don’t think LizaJne told them any such thing, but what grownup would have predicted success?)
  • Don’t waste too much time in planning. Go straight to market.
  • Make the most of the resources around you. Heck, turn problems into products.

What lessons would you add to the list?

[Photo by LizaJne herself. Used by permission.]

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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

October 4, 2008 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, rural, youth

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Comments

  1. Becky McCray says

    October 4, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    From Twitter, @Marelisa has an idea:
    How entrepreneurial of them. They can create “homes” for the bugs w/ decorated shoe boxes (glitter, etc.) & sell those too :-)

    By the way, @Marelisa is from Panama City, Panama, and blogs at http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com/

  2. Giovanna Garcia says

    October 5, 2008 at 12:38 am

    That is awesome! I love it. A friend of my has her family on road with her for her inspiration tour. I met up with them in AZ at the campground and her son were selling rocks that he found around the campground. I am going to have to share this with him (he is 6 yrs old, may be he can expands his production line)

    Giovanna Garcia

  3. Becky McCray says

    October 5, 2008 at 1:05 am

    Another great young entrepreneur story! Thanks, Giovanna.

  4. PizzaForADream says

    October 5, 2008 at 10:21 pm

    Great idea! We adults are always too practical and tend to snub creativity. Kids here after hurricane Ike were selling ice to folks to make some extra $$. Keep it up!!

  5. Sandra Sims says

    October 6, 2008 at 2:39 am

    Another lesson, go niche. Some people will want very specific kinds of critters and for specific purposes. (i.e. for pet lizards, fishing, gardening, etc.)

  6. Becky McCray says

    October 6, 2008 at 2:42 am

    Thanks, PizzaForADream. Thanks for adding that example.

    Sandra, great lesson! I was wondering why the grasshoppers would bring a dollar! :)

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