KINGSFORD, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Saturday, lemonade stands sprang up all over Dickinson County for the Chamber of Commerce’s Lemonade Day. The Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce coordinated over 40 stands for its second annual event, initially conceived in partnership with local schools to foster students’ business skills. However, one student, in particular, gained a bit more than entrepreneurial experience.
Located on Carpenter Avenue in Kingsford, a stand named Kaylee’s Pucker Up Paradise offered regular and pink lemonade, along with lemon-inspired desserts. Sponsored by the Iron Mountain Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union, this stand was unique. Kaylee Bartels, the seventh-grade participant, not only created the business but also constructed her own stand.
“I drilled every single hole. I sanded it all and everything. I cut it. It’s been really good; we’ve got a lot of customers today. We sold almost all, like most of our, half of our cupcakes and almost all of our cookies,” Kaylee proudly stated.
She had started running lemonade stands a few years ago to raise money for a trip to Washington, D.C., but this was her first venture into building her own table.