YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR MAKES LIFE SWEETER
Nothing compliments a hot summer day like an ice-cold glass of lemonade and nothing is more classic than children selling lemonade on a hot summer day. Young Willits resident, Peyton, took her business, Peyton’s Honey Lemonade online with lemonade concentrate mix for delivery and business is booming.
The bright-eyed seven-yearold began the summer with a desire to earn some money, so she started selling handcrafted dragonflies (fashioned out of beads and pipe-cleaners) to family and community members from her front yard. She explained, “I have a bunch of them!” Inspired by spending time with her mom, Jordan Eads, and a desire to make something new, Peyton branched out into the lemonade business.
With giggles, Peyton described how the first batch was made, “We put too much sugar in it, and I went crazy!” In the second batch she reduced the sugar and added honey and an undisclosed secret ingredient
resulting in refreshing lemonade that is not too sweet yet full of flavor and quite thirst quenching.
Peyton does the bulk of the work herself, from cutting the fabric for the mason jars to washing the dishes. She explained, “Stirring is the hard part.” She said her mother helps with the more dangerous parts of the process, such as pouring boiling water and turning on the stove, as well as advertising online.
Peyton said it feels good to have a successful lemonade business and her favorite part about it is spending time with her mom when she is helping her and also delivering the lemonade and seeing people enjoy it.
Peyton has big plans for the money she earns through her business. She said, “I’m going to get lots of money so I can buy a house, a car and a cat.” When the soon-to-be second-grader is not investing in her future, she enjoys playing outside.
Eads said, “It’s really rewarding to see her and how excited she is when she gets it done, accomplishes it and then delivers it to people.”
Eads is not only proud of Peyton, but also the support the community has shown. She said she and Peyton began by making four quarts of lemonade to see if it would sell, and the next day they had more than 70 orders. Peyton’s past coaches, teachers, the fire departments and Imagination Station Preschool all supported the business. Eads said, “It has been fun and rewarding to see our small town be supportive of a seven-yearold little girl.”
Eads also said the experience has taught Peyton so many different lessons including people skills and the value of a dollar. Peyton is also purchasing her own supplies, learning that things do not come free in life.
Peyton is not the only entrepreneur in the family. Her mom runs Jordan Eads Photography and Peyton explained her brother Paxton will be starting a rock shop next year. She said, “So, watch out for that one.”
Peyton plans to continue her lemonade business even after school starts in the fall, working on weekends and after school. To place an order, contact Jordan Eads on Facebook or call (707) 813-7416.
“It’s really rewarding to see her and how excited she is when she gets it done, accomplishes it and then delivers it to people.” — Jordan Eads, Peyton’s mom