Tooth Fairy Time Youth Business Fair Winners
We had 2 winners who made the most sales during our annual Youth Business Fair and now their business is highlighted below!
2025 Winners
Congratulations to Janie & Ellie Creations
Janie and Ellie Scribner are two talented young artists and entrepreneurs who turned their creative hobbies into a small business. Janie is 13 years old and a 7th grader at Crossroads Middle School. She enjoys running track, drawing, and designing handmade earrings. Ellie is 15 years old and a 9th grader at Red Land High School. Her creative interests include crocheting, painting, drawing, and playing the piano.
Inspired by seeing other young creators selling their handmade products at craft fairs on social media, Ellie began crocheting in 2021 and decided she wanted to build a business of her own. She invited her mom and sister to join in, combining their talents to sell a variety of handmade goods at local fairs and markets. One of the first big steps was researching and signing up for events in the area. Over time, Janie and Ellie learned from experience, improving their displays, product offerings, and business strategies.
One of the biggest challenges they faced was figuring out which products would sell best. Some items they expected to be popular didn’t perform as well, and sales often varied based on the location and timing of events. They overcame this by adjusting their inventory based on what they learned from previous events. Another challenge was managing their time—balancing school and other responsibilities with creating inventory. They found that using weekends, summers, and school breaks helped them stay productive without becoming overwhelmed.
Their mom has been a huge support system along the way, helping with event planning and making sure they were prepared. This allowed Janie and Ellie to focus on doing what they love—creating.
Their advice to other young entrepreneurs? Make sure to plan ahead and be prepared for all the moving pieces involved in running a business. Having a strong support system of family and friends also makes a big difference.
What keeps them motivated is setting goals for themselves, creating checklists, and having something to work toward. Above all, their passion for their art fuels them to keep creating, learning, and growing.
Congratulations to Kammy’s Korner & Kairo’s Kave
Kamryn and Kairo are a dynamic sibling duo turning creativity and inspiration into thriving small businesses at a young age. Kamryn—who goes by Kammy—is entering 7th grade at Swatara Middle School and is the founder of Kammy’s Korner. She’s a passionate artist who enjoys crocheting, painting, jewelry-making, henna art, and more. Her journey began at age 8, inspired by her mom’s own entrepreneurial success. From that moment, Kammy knew she wanted to create a business of her own—and within a year, she did just that.
Her younger sister, Kairo, is only 5 years old and heading into 1st grade at Tri-Community Elementary School. She launched Kairo’s Kave after seeing his “sissy” Kammy start her business. She wanted to make and sell things he enjoyed, and with the help of his mom, sister, and GiGi, Kairo got his business off the ground too.
For Kammy, jewelry was a natural product choice—she’s always loved how it can elevate any outfit and never goes out of style. She started with a name, brainstormed what she loved to make, and brought her vision to life. Kairo took a similar approach: she began by creating things that made her happy, and now she shares that joy with others.
Both Kammy and Kairo credit their family as their biggest source of support. Their mom helps manage challenges behind the scenes, which allows them to focus on their crafts. Kammy balances her business with school by working on the weekends, while Kairo brings boundless energy and excitement to everything he does.
Their advice for other young entrepreneurs? Kammy says, “Never give up. You will face challenges and doubters, but keep believing in yourself.” Kairo adds, “It’s never too early to start.” Together, they show that with passion, support, and creativity, anything is possible—no matter your age.
Kammy dreams of growing her brand into a well-known business one day, and Kairo stays motivated by having fun and making money. With strong imaginations, big goals, and the supp
2024 Winners
Congratulations to Crochet by Alex
Alex Earley is a 10th-grade student at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School, turning 16 in December. Passionate about both music and art, Alex participates in various activities including musicals, piano, voice lessons, tap, and contemporary dance. Alex is also skilled in painting, sculpting, drawing, and crocheting.
About a year ago, Alex began crocheting during a boring summer, starting with simple rows of stitches. Over time, this hobby evolved into creating fun and cute stuffed animals. The quality of Alex’s projects has significantly improved, becoming more elaborate and well-crafted.
To fund a school trip to Disneyworld last November, Alex decided to sell crocheted creations. Through weeks and months of hard work, Alex managed to raise over $400. The business was named something simple and recognizable.
Throughout this journey, Alex faced challenges such as having enough money to buy yarn before making sales and predicting which products would be popular. Despite these hurdles, the quality of Alex’s work improved with tighter stitches and more elaborate patterns.
Alex’s parents have been a major support system. Alex’s mom helps with product ideas and purchasing materials, while Alex’s dad assists with the business side, including financial management. Kelly Smith was a mentor for Alex when she first started learning how to crochet. She taught Alex how to read patterns and how crochet a magic circle which is used a lot in patterns.
Alex advises other young entrepreneurs to persevere and stay positive, emphasizing the importance of trusting the process and having faith in oneself. While fulfilling orders can sometimes be boring, Alex finds pride in completed projects and keeps the passion alive by discovering new and fun patterns to create, from giant corgis to ice cream cows.
Congratulations to Stringin with Illy
Iliana Santiago, an 11-year-old student entering the 6th grade at Central Dauphin Middle School, is a passionate young entrepreneur with a love for creativity and the outdoors. Growing up with three dogs and a little sister, Iliana enjoys spending her days playing outside, reading in the sunshine, and exploring nature. She has a strong interest in horses and dreams of learning how to ride one day. A dedicated soccer player for CASA, Iliana has been playing the sport since she was little and enjoys every aspect of the game.
Balancing her business with other responsibilities, Iliana manages her time wisely, keeping organized with her orders, supplies, and production schedule. With the support of her mom, she continues to thrive in her venture.
For other young entrepreneurs, Iliana’s advice is simple: “Just do it.” Her motivation comes from the excitement of seeing her creations worn by happy customers, a source of joy and fulfillment that keeps her passionate about her business.
