Cassidy's lemonade stand wins $750 prize
Inaugural award for young entrepreneurs "sweetens" the Haddock speaker series.
Cassidy Evans truly has an entrepreneurial spirit, and particularly a gift for the social-profit sector.
When Cassidy was five, she came up with the idea of selling lemonade to raise awareness and money for cystic fibrosis (CF). Over the past six years, Cassidy has raised over $100,000 for CF research through her lemonade sales.
“I love being an entrepreneur,” said Cassidy. “My favourite part of running a business is meeting so many new people, and I’m really good at sales!”
Cassidy’s mother Kimberly Evans said Cassidy was diagnosed with CF at age four and wanted to help. “She just has this beautiful spirit about her,” she said. “Cassidy wants to let people know what cystic fibrosis is. She wants to be an advocate and to find a cure.”
Cassidy got a boost to her business by entering the inaugural Get a Bigger Wagon Young Entrepreneur Awards competition which were held as part of the 12th annual Gordon and Maureen Haddock Entrepreneurial Speaker Series last January at the Edwards School of Business.
The awards are named for Gordon Haddocks’ own experience as a child entrepreneur, when he began collecting bottles so he could buy his own three-speed bicycle. “The aim of the awards is to encourage and reward young entrepreneurs with cash prizes for starting a business,” said Gordon. “Entrepreneurship can change the way we think, live, and work. We hope to inspire more people to have some fun and start their own business.”
Cassidy has been selling cool merch alongside her lemonade, and she used her prize money to invest in more inventory for her online boutique. “I was so excited and honored to receive this award,” she said. “I purchased lemon necklaces, bracelets, hair scrunchies, socks, squishies, and earrings, and lime key chains,” she said. “All of the items are available at cassidyslemonadestand.com.”
We did a sweet and refreshing Q & A with Cassidy to find out more about her lemonade businesses.
Q & A with Cassidy
Do you have a lemon tree in your backyard?
I wish! Our friends at Moxie's restaurant help us order in the best lemonade lemons.
Does lemonade from restaurants taste… not very good to you?
I still like drinking lemonade from restaurants, but I definitely think my lemonade is the best!
What makes your lemonade special?
We always joke that the secret ingredient is love, but we do use fresh ingredients for my secret recipe and I do think you can tell when something is made with love.
Is your lemonade better with ice?
Definitely better with ice. Refreshing and delicious with just the right amount of tart.
If you could start a second business what would it be?
I’d like to open a coffee shop. Maybe even sell my lemonade there too.
If there was one thing you wished people knew about living with cystic fibrosis what would it be?
Living with cystic fibrosis means that I spend three hours a day doing medical treatments and taking medications. It’s really hard. But, living with cystic fibrosis has helped me never take any moments for granted. Bring on the adventures.
For more information about the Get a Bigger Wagon Awards please visit https://www.edwards.usask.ca/entrepreneur/gabw.aspx