Budding entrepreneurs have chance to show talents at kids-only market

The Kids Collective Winter Market is also a fundraiser for Waitarere Beach Scouts troop, who will be selling garden stakes.

This is for every time your children have asked to set up a stall at the end of the driveway - a market just for kids to show off their talents, their arts and crafts, or even their treasures.

The Kids Collective Winter Market is happening at the Waitarere Beach Domain on Sunday.

All the stalls are being run by primary-age through to college-age children (some with parents in tow to help out), and the community is being encouraged to shop and support these young entrepreneurs.

Waitarere Beach mum Brooke Ristow is the instigator of this inaugural event, and is thrilled with the response so far.

"We've got about a dozen stalls booked in already, mostly local kids with their own home-made items," Ristow said.

Home-made beeswax wraps and lip balms are among the goodies available at the Kids Collective Winter Market on Sunday.

There's still space available for other stalls, although prospective stallholders will have to supply their own setup (tables etc).

This event is also a fundraiser for the Waitarere Beach Scouts troop, who will be operating a China Smash stall, to help fund activities like rock climbing.

"There's no charge for entry to the market, but each stallholder has paid a fee ($5 for a space; $10 for a table) which is being donated to the scouts."

Ristow said they're hoping to have other activities, such as pony rides, available on the day and she encourages any young entertainers who are keen to showcase their talents to get in touch as well.

There's a great range of offerings at the Kids Collective Winter Market this Sunday, including crystals.

Ristow emigrated to New Zealand from near Los Angeles with her family about three years ago.

Her husband is doing his PhD at Victoria University so they were initially based in Wellington, then were given the opportunity to move to a house in Waitarere Beach that they jumped at.

The couple and their four children love the community vibe of the area, and Ristow ran a market at the domain in 2020, Boots and Boos, which was a Halloween-themed event.

Ristow is hoping the Kids Collective Market will become a regular event, and has plans for another near the end of November to encourage some early Christmas shopping among the residents.

Be sure to come along to the Waitarere Beach Domain and Scout Hall on Sunday, August 1, from 11am to 1pm, to check out some home-made arts and crafts created by local children.

And if you have a child with an entrepreneurial spirit who'd like to set up a space for their own goodies to sell, then call or text Brooke Ristow on 021 0834 1754 for last-minute bookings.