July’s AdVenture: Owen’s Rock Collection

Earlier this month, we posted that July’s AdVenture was going to involve some sort of custom pastry.  Well, a couple of things happened since then so we’ve elected to change it up a bit.  For starters, a lengthy vacation back to Wisconsin took us off course, and then Owen created a rock selling business without any of our involvement (insert proud father moment here).  Since he was able to create a nice little profit, we’ve changed this month’s AdVenture to Owen’s Rock Collection and are including an abbreviated Austin From Scratch segment where we interview the Founder.  Yep, we’re riding the wave!

While I was focused last week on getting caught up after our vacation – namely on sleep and emails – Owen had his own idea.  When I returned from the office on Tuesday evening, he informed me he would be hosting a rock sale.  I thought it would be fun to ask some questions about his new business and get some insight about his creative process so I grabbed my smart phone/Tape-a-Talk app and let the fun begin:

Dad: What kind of business do you have?

Owen: It’s a rock collection.  And I’m selling rocks from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.  I’ll be selling rocks for fifty cents/piece.  Get ten rocks for one free rock.

Dad: Does that mean I have to buy ten rocks to get a free one?

Owen: Yes.  But you can also buy five of them.  Or three of them.  You can buy as much as you want.  But if you buy ten of them, you get a free one.  You can buy as many as you want to.  Two rocks are only one dollar.

Malia: How about if you get three rocks?

(Everyone laughs…including Malia…question ultimately goes unanswered.)

Dad: Where did you come up with fifty cents as the price per rock?

Owen: Well, me and my friend were coming up with this idea and she went to her house and her dad said, “Not one dollar.  How about fifty cents?”  So that’s how we came up with fifty cents.  Next question.

Dad: Why did you think to sell rocks?

Owen: Because we just thought it could be fun…just like sort of an experiment.

Dad: Where did you get the rocks?

Owen: By the play-scape…mostly under the tree.

Dad: Are they special rocks or are they just regular rocks?

Owen: They’re special rocks.  I picked them by hand.  They all look beautiful.  If they’re not beautiful, they’re a fossil.

(I chuckled at that response…and then noticed a short stack of homemade flyers lying next to his cup of rocks.)

Dad: What are all these pieces of paper?

Owen: They tell about the rock collection.  It starts tomorrow and it ends on Saturday.

Dad: What’s the name of your store….your rock collection?

Owen: Owen’s Rock Collection

Dad: Do you think you’ll sell many rocks?

Owen: At least ten of them.

Dad: Who did you think will buy most of the rocks?

Owen: Daddy

Dad: Does your number one customer get any special treatment?

Owen: A big hug and a big kiss!

I’ll be the first one to admit selling rocks might be a difficult business to get off the ground (unless they happen to be diamonds) but I was really impressed he came up with the idea, had gathered some product and even had flyers.  With the previous events, we had collaborated on pretty much everything.  But this time, Owen built his own business from scratch.  Furthermore, he sold the rocks to four separate customers and raised sixteen dollars.  I’m excited we’re continuing to learn and having fun and that the work we’re doing together is leaving an impact on him.

I’m also very excited about August’s AdVenture which will involve partnering with Hey Cupcake!

Does it seem as thought the kids are started to pick up on some of the things we’re trying to teach them?  What other lessons should we include as part of our entrepreneurial journey?  Have you ever owned a Pet Rock?

Next: The Bottom Line (July, 2012)

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