Jacquelyn “Jac” Koester is helping the next generation of makers develop their C-suite skills.
The Hobe Sound–based event planner, children’s book author, and homeschool mom hosts the Little Makers Market, a six-week entrepreneurship workshop for elementary-aged children at the Jupiter Artisan Marketplace. The sessions will culminate with a Market Night July 25, where the kids will sell their wares.
An early career in hospitality laid the groundwork for Koester’s penchant for service. When she began a career pivot in her mid-20s, touching base with her lifelong creativity and love of illustration was central to navigating her way to her next passion. Koester took to making her own patterns in Adobe Illustrator and affixing them to sandals, dresses, backpacks, and stickers; custom lettering; and making dresses to sell.
When Koester’s son, Lucas, was born seven years ago, her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit took on a new form. The new mom turned a poem her husband had written while she was pregnant into the first of several children’s books. Each book has coincided with one of Lucas’s milestones, from learning his ABCs to dressing up as a family for Halloween.
When Lucas recently expressed an interest in selling Pokémon cards in the family’s neighborhood to earn some money, Koester saw an opportunity to nurture that entrepreneurial spirit—not only in her own son but also in children throughout the community.
Koester began researching children’s markets where young entrepreneurs could turn their ideas into sellable products. The ones she found were too far away for local families to access, and closer venues couldn’t accommodate the program.
Then the stars aligned.
Koester met Andrea Aitken, owner of Jupiter Artisan Marketplace, after Aitken called her out of the blue to ask her to paint the marketplace’s window displays. During a visit to the space, the two women discussed Aitken’s desire to welcome more children into the marketplace. From that conversation, Little Makers Market was born.
For Koester, Little Makers Market is about more than giving kids a space to create a product.
“I want to teach them how to be kind to one another because the ages seven to 10, they’re so impactful. They’re willing to listen and learn,” Koester says. “All of it just boils down to I just want to make an impact to as many people as I can.”
The Little Makers Market workshop is currently underway, with seven children busy pitching, creating, and marketing wares that run the gamut from jewelry to Lego creations, and drawings printed on collectible stickers.
The community is invited to explore these creations and more during Market Night on July 25. In addition to shopping the young makers’ products, visitors can browse goods from Jupiter Artisan Marketplace’s resident adult artisans, explore interactive art, and enjoy food and live music while they shop. After Market Night, Aitken plans to offer one or two participants the opportunity to continue selling their creations at the marketplace.
Koester plans on continuing the workshop into the fall and spring.
“There are a lot of families in Martin County and Palm Beach County that can benefit from this. I’m really excited to grow it and maybe head up different parts of the county to welcome new kids, and then have my graduate kids come and participate in the market.”
At the heart of Little Makers Market is the motto: “This isn’t a craft class; it’s a confidence class.” Koester wants every child who participates to leave speaking confidently, feeling proud of their abilities, and treating others with kindness.
“It’s just so important for them to grow up to be good, kind, helpful, and productive human beings.”
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