Snow Cone Stand

We decided to help the kids have a snow cone stand to help them earn some money and learn about tithing (and I may have also tried to teach them a little business 101!).  Remember last year's DISASTER garage sale and lemonade stand (see here)?  I am happy to report that we had a very successful snow cone stand!!  

We passed out loads of fliers to neighbors and friends (genius advertising if I do say so myself!), so we only had to be out selling for an hour and a half and we kept busy almost the entire time.  Lots of Rachel & Andrew's friends came, and it made it so fun for us and the kids.  While Rachel was passing out fliers, she was a relentless sales person!  We ended up just taping fliers to doors instead of actually talking to people about it because she wanted them to commit on the spot that they would come a buy a snow cone from her for a dollar.  During the snow cone stand, she greeted each customer and took the orders and collected the money, and made sure no one got a snow cone without paying her for it.  :)  Andrew's only contribution was eating snow cones - I think he had four of them.  

Thanks to dad for providing the awesome snow cone machine, and for keeping up with all the orders!  We sold about 50 snow cones, so our sales were $50.  We figured it cost around $20 for the expenses so we gave Rachel the $30 profit since she did most of the work (*wink*wink*).  She paid her $3 tithing the next day to the Bishop and proudly handed in her envelope covered in stickers.  Rachel also got to go to the store and pick out a toy with the money she'd earned.  She really wanted a Lalaloopsy sister doll, and they were on sale for $10, so she got to pick out two and she was thrilled.  Technically she gave a doll to Andrew, but then I convinced her that it could be mine so that we could play together.  We generously gave Andrew $5, just so he could turn in 50 cents tithing with his big sister.  I would have let him pick out something at the store if he cared, but he truly doesn't.  He holds toys for a second, then drops them.  He just wants treats.  He'd pick a treat over a toy any day. 

Not a bad business venture for only being open for an hour and a half!  The fliers were key, and my estimate is that a little less than half of the families who received fliers came.  Only two people stopped by that didn't receive a flier, and were just driving by.  We had a lot of fun!  And hopefully people were impressed with the snow cone, or at least felt like they got their dollar's worth.  Our current favorite flavor is rootbeer syrup - Brandon likes his with ice cream on the bottom, I prefer mine with the creme on top.  Yum!  Brandon makes himself one at least 4 times a week I'd say.