The five Ps of the lemonade stand: place and picking the right spot
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EmailWhen youth run a lemonade stand, they are learning and practicing the important concepts of the 5 Ps of marketing. This article focusers on place and how selecting the location for your lemonade stand is a critical part of success.
This Michigan State University Extension article is the fourth in a series focused on the five Ps of marketing as it relates to a youth lemonade stand. Previous articles in this series focus on determining the product, the price and the potential profit. This article discusses the importance of place and why location matters for young entrepreneurs. A great recipe might make delicious lemonade, but without customers, the stand won’t be successful. Having a successful lemonade stand requires selecting a location that is visible, easy to reach and attracts plenty of foot traffic.
Start close to home
For many young entrepreneurs, the neighborhood is the easiest and safest place to begin. Setting up on your driveway or at the corner of your block can give you good visibility while keeping you close to home. Safety should always come first—avoid busy intersections where customers may not be able to stop easily. Instead, place a clear, colorful sign near a high-traffic corner that directs people safely to your stand. This balance of visibility and safety will protect you and your customers while helping your business grow.
Use a little promotion
People need to know you’re open for business! A quick social media post by a parent can invite friends, family, and neighbors to support your entrepreneurial efforts. Word-of-mouth is also powerful, ask your family and friends to spread the news.
Seek out high-traffic areas
If possible, bring your lemonade stand to where the people are. Parks, pools, sports fields, playgrounds and other recreational spaces are perfect places to attract thirsty customers. You might even consider a short-term pop-up at a community event or near a construction site—both can turn into temporary but profitable ventures.
Stand out with style
Your lemonade stand can be more than just a card table and a pitcher of lemonade! Bright colors, unique designs and creative signs can draw customers to your lemonade stand.
If you are serious about making big profits, consider investing time or money in building a simple but eye-catching stand. YouTube is full of tutorials, or you can purchase a premade kit to assemble. The more inviting your set-up, the more likely people will stop.
National Lemonade Day is August 20th each year. National Lemonade Day was founded by Lisa and Michael Holthouse in 2007 to honor the way lemonade stands are a useful tool to teach children about running a business. The tagline says it all: Teaching Kids the Power of Entrepreneurship. The 2020 Youth Impact Study of National Lemonade Day highlights some of the benefits to youth who operate a lemonade stand. If you have had a successful lemonade stand, share your story and be a featured entrepreneur.
MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the workforce, and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives.
