As we shared in a blog post last week, Creston Homelinks and Wildflower are getting ready for the Student Business Fair taking place this Saturday April 11, 2026, from 10:00am to 1:00pm. One of the smiling students you’ll see in the Creston Room upstairs at the Rec Centre is Izzy, who has been hosting her own table for all five years of the event. As a young entrepreneur, she is busy getting her wares ready for the big day like all the others, but as a graduating student taking part for the last time, she is also reflecting on her experiences. She looks back on the five years of participation with fondness, noticing that the years are blending together in a long memory of learning and fun.

Student Business Fair customers look forward to Izzy’s daffodils every year since she has a spot with a warm microclimate where they grow earlier than anywhere else in the region. Her chocolate chip cookies are also always a big hit. But it isn’t just the products that support success; as Izzy describes her sales strategies, it’s clear she puts a lot of thought into all the details. She says that pricing is important, and she makes sure hers are lower than at the local stores. She organizes the flowers into pretty bunches in advance and puts effort into ensuring her table will be pleasing to the eye. She notes that her skills in planning, budgeting, and gathering supplies have become second nature, but she still wants customers to know that their purchases are appreciated, since everything does take a lot of time.

When Izzy talks about being successful at the Student Business Fair, she highlights being friendly toward the customers, but also encouraging and supporting the other student entrepreneurs. She remembers there being one young participant who didn’t make many sales and who was so appreciative when she made a point of choosing something from his table. She also describes her young cousins who have incorporated free samples and theatrical sales into their offering, while hilariously wearing business suits. She also talks about one of the highlights of the business fair being after the doors close to the public, when it turns into a barter market. Any remaining products change hands between the entrepreneurs in negotiated exchange, while they also swap stories and congratulate one another on a job well done.

If you would like to know more about the Creston Homelinks Student Business Fair, please feel free to reach out to Kristina Leidums via email at kristina.leidums@sd8.bc.ca. Izzy and the student entrepreneurs hope to see you there on Saturday!