ONEIDA (NBC 26) — Julia Royal has spent weeks picking out clips and connecting charms to craft handmade jewelry. For Julia, it's not just a hobby. She has her own business, JJ's Jewels, and she even has her own business cards.
"I was going to make my mom a pair of earrings for her birthday, and I found out that I like doing it so much," Royal said. "So I invested some money, and everybody liked it, so I started making more."
Royal is just one of the many young entrepreneurs in Oneida who brought their ideas and creations to the Oneida Farmer's Market on Thursday. The first annual Homeschool Children's Business Fair was held, and it included around 10 vendors.
The fair was organized by a home school teacher and regular Oneida market vendor Lisa Hubbard.
"They're our next generation. If we don't train them up to think creatively about products they want in the future, they're not going to be thinking about it later in life typically," Hubbard said.
Young entrepreneur Mara Gerner makes fairy and dragon jars. She said she enjoyed the fair because it gives her an opportunity to show her passion to the community.
"The most fun is probably selling them and seeing the look on people's faces when they buy it, and I think it's really fun to embrace what you want to do," Gerner said.
The Oneida Farmer's Marketwill continue every Thursday from 12 p.m. through 6 p.m. until September 29.
