Image: L. Gomes / PML / Left to right: Andre (7), Damien (4), and Aisla (10).

By Laurice Gomes

Kids selling bracelets

Ambitious siblings set up shop to sell handmade bracelets in Abby neighbourhood

Aug 11, 2022 | 1:52 PM

ABBOTSFORD — On a bright, sunny Thursday morning (Aug. 11), four siblings set up shop outside their Abbotsford home to sell handmade bracelets.

Denise Reid, who was supervising with one-year-old Blaise on her hip, spoke proudly of her children and their entrepreneurial spirit.

“My children are selling rubber band rainbow loom bracelets,” she said. “They learned the craft a couple of years ago, they’ve gotten into it recently again, and they’ve made so darn many that they can’t wear them all the time.”

So, 10-year-old Aisla and 7-year-old Andre decided to sell the colourful bracelets instead—with their superintendent in tow, 4-year-old Damien.

“They just have a lot of little wants, especially the dollar store stuff, which I’m not willing to pay for myself,” Reid explained of her ambitious children. “So, they fund their craft; they buy more rubber bands after they’ve sold a bunch of bracelets; and they just sell.”

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There are approximately 30 bracelets on the table, some with matching “mom and me” sets for when kids go off to kindergarten.

“They saw it online when I showed them what people were doing on real crafting websites,” mom explained.”Then they took the idea and ran with it.”

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Matching “Mom & me” bracelets.

Bracelets are sold for 50 cents apiece, and Reid said despite construction happening right outside the house, the community has been supportive of the business.

“People are extremely generous and give them far more than what they’re asking for,” she said. “So, I’d like to say the number of bracelets going out is slow, but the amount of money coming in ends up being quite fast. We have a very generous neighbourhood.”

A woman with her child walked up to the table, and without hesitation, made a purchase of one of the bracelets. Both Aisla and Andre appreciatively say thank you as they hand over the item to the smiling customer.

With music playing on a speaker, the children set up a welcoming and fun atmosphere, neither of them shy about acknowledging people passing by on the sidewalk. Clearly, it wasn’t their first rodeo.

“The last time they tried to earn money, it was during COVID, and I mentioned that a lemonade stand wouldn’t be appropriate in 2020,” Reid said. “So, they decided to do a bottle drive, and I put it out there on our Facebook community page that my kids would love to earn some money for wants by collecting bottles.”

According to mom, nine houses responded with an “overwhelming” number of bottles.

“We had van loads of bottles which they sorted in our driveway,” she said, reminiscent of the time. “In the end, after all of the money came in, they earned almost $400.”

In November 2019, the siblings did a fundraiser for the Salvation Army through Santa Shuffle—a 5km run or 1km walk fundraising initiative.

“They sold hot chocolate in November outside the house,” mom said, beaming with pride. “They did quite well with that too.”

When asked what their next business venture would look like, Aisla excitedly responded, “garage sale”.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / The siblings also make custom-made bracelets on the spot.