How to Run the Best Lemonade Stand Ever.
Make the Best Lemonade Stand Ever.
“Kindness to yourself and to others comes from a desire to support your own highest good and the highest good of others. When your highest priority is to support the highest good of all, you are naturally kind. You don’t even have to think about it. It flows easily when your deepest desire is to be a loving, caring person.” – From the Symphony of Love, “The Power of Kindness in Relationships.”
My friend, Dave and I recently set up a lemonade stand on a beach near San Diego. With an 18$ initial investment, we made some new friends, inspired many a smile, quenched some thirsts, and ended up losing only 8$. It was tons of fun!
I wanted to share what I learned from that experience and also from doing some research on the lemonade stand subject, so that others could duplicate the experience wherever you may be. Spread some love, lemonade style!
If you like the article, please share it with your friends and follow Benjamin in his hitchhiking travels around the USA sharing stories of the Goodness of People.
How to Run the Best Lemonade Stand Ever.
First off, I need to clarify the definition of “Best Lemonade Stand Ever.” The best lemonade stand ever does not necessarily make the owner the most money. The best lemonade stand ever makes the shares the most happiness, love, and wisdom ever. You money grubbers can read this article from Sunkist, which shows you how to make a serious profit.
For those that want to have fun and get others to have fun, then this article is for you.
Three Keys to running the Best Lemonade Stand Ever: Spreading Love thru Lemonade.
A. Quality Lemonade!
B. A Location with a lot of thirsty and friendly people!
C. Personal Pizzazz and Charm!
Step By Step to Running the Best Lemonade Stand Ever.
1. Get Your Supplies.
Make sure to buy quality ingredients. You can use a mix or fresh lemons, but it is important to buy good sugar, mix, and lemons. My friend, Dave and I decided to make lemonade from a mix. We bought the Kool-aid brand, but also mixed in the cheaper version. We bought 6 lemons to add a slice to each drink. We also bought RAW Sugar. Quality ingredients are key to the best lemonade stand ever.
Here is what you need:
*Table.
*At least two signs.
*Chairs.
*Pitcher.
*An extra jug or pitcher to have a back up ready when the first pitcher runs out.
*Cooler.
*Ice.
*Lemons.
*Water.
*Lemonade Mix.
*Sugar.
*Spoon to stir.
*Your Personal Pizzazz!
2. Make the Lemonade ahead of time.
Make the lemonade at home, before you head out. Make a few gallons and store in extra jugs. Anything will work as long as it is clean. Keep the lemonade chilled and fresh!!
3. Make Eye Catching Signs.
Coverage. Simplicity. Powness! You want more than one sign so that your signs can face different directions. So people driving by and walking by from all directions can see your signs and be drawn in. Make the signs simple, yet beautiful. Use large letters and different colors. Draw an eye catching lemon or big glass of lemonade on there too.
4. Location, Location, Location!
This is the second most important factor in your successful lemonade stand. Be sure to check legality laws in your neighborhood, before you set up shop. Then, choose a location that will have lots of thirsty and friendly people walking past. Your front lawn is the most convenient, but other suggestions are a nearby crowded beach, a little league game, a park, or near a parade.
5. Set Up Shop.
Be Clean, Be Clean, Be Clean! Set up near the stream of people, but not in everyone’s way. Set up your table and chairs so you are comfortable. Make sure your table is neat, clean, and well arranged. Set up your signs nearby so folks can see them. Keep your cooler under your table to refill, which is stocked with quality, chilled lemonade.
6. Pay What It’s Worth.
Let the customers decide! A new business model is becoming more and more popular in the digital world, is the Pay What You Think It’s Worth model. Instead of setting a price, let your customers decide how much they think it is worth. We had a man pay 5$ for a glass and some little kids only had quarters. The goal again is not to make the most money from our lemonade stand, but to get as many people a good glass of lemonade and spread some happiness and love.
7. Add a Twist to Your Stand!
Do something different! Be Unique! Dave and I decide to give out a free fortune with every cup of lemonade. One of us would come up with a personalized fortune on the spot to every customer. Fortunes like, “You would look good in a handle bar mustache,” were given to a little dude. The point was to make people smile and leave our stand feeling better than when they came.
I would say in this field, play to your strengths. Other options are to add other goods to your stand, like cookies or another beverage like tea. If you can draw, you can add in a quick portrait drawn on the spot. Let your imagination roam!
8. Smile, Compliment, and Beam Love!
Say hello to everyone that passes! Offer them lemonade! Compliment them on their choice of clothing. Strike up conversations with anyone that comes in to check out your goods. Make everyone feel happier as they leave your stand, whether they get lemonade or not. Be the people that others happily tell their friends about later that day.
9. Give out at least one free cup an hour!
Give because it feels so dang good! One cup an hour is nothing off your back, but could really make someone’s day. DO NOT GIVE THIS CUP TO A CUTE GIRL OR BOY! No flirty giveaways! Give this cup to someone whom it would really brighten their day, like an older person whom is struggling to walk around or a teeny little person whom a glass of lemonade would be like gold. Give a cup to someone whom can’t afford it, but looks thirsty!
10. Leave the area better than you found it.
When you are cleaning up, make sure to pick up any trash you have left, including organic items like lemon peels. Also, as a general practice, clean up the area a little if you can. It will make others want to have you return!
***
If you have tips, advice, lemonade stand stories, lemonade recipes, tips for creative additions to a stand, or just a word of wisdom, please share it with the other readers of Create Our World by commenting!
If you do set up a lemonade stand, please tell me how it goes, I may share the story with others here on Create Our World.
Or if you have an idea for a how to post, please share! I am always looking for suggestions!
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Ben
“Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” – Mother Teresa
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