Broomfield-based businessman Jack Bonneau will pitch his lemonade stand franchise concept to the judges on ABC’s "Shark Tank" this Friday, Nov. 11.
But unlike his Texan competitors — a mom who makes car seat covers, a Korean BBQ fusion food truck owner and a real estate broker with a pitch about house hunting — Bonneau is only 10 years old.
What started as a single lemonade and iced tea stand with $900 in profits throughout its first summer season, has become an all-season, multi-city marketplace that pulled $100,000 in profits in 2015, the Daily Camera reported.
When Bonneau was eight, his parents fronted him $1,000 to take a lemonade stand to the Westminster’s farmers market. Today he sells lemonade, iced tea and Arnold Palmers in the summer from stands in Erie, Louisville, Broomfield and Westminster. During the winter, he takes his operations into malls to sell hot cocoa and apple cider to thirsty shoppers.
And in 2015, Tonneau reached out to other young entrepreneurs to encourage them to sell their products in his expanded retail space, called Jack's Stands & Marketplace.
He now works with 18 entrepreneurs from across Colorado that make everything from organic dog treats to homemade beeswax beauty products.
Bonneau’s father, Steve, said his son is responsible for 95 percent of the work that goes into Jack’s Stands & Marketplace. Furthermore, the experience has taught his son -- and the kids Jack works with -- invaluable life experience.
"There's been so many aspects that are positive. Jack growing and expanding his efforts, reaching out to more kids and seeing that kid-to-kid interaction, seeing Jack grow by watching other kids grow as they do more,” Steve told the Daily Camera. “They’re coming out of their shell and learning life and social skills.”
On Friday, Bonneau hopes to woo shark tank judges in hopes of attracting investment for his business. With the money, Bonneau aspires to expand Jack’s Stands & Marketplace to New Orleans and Detroit, where he is already in talks with 13-year-old “Super Business Girl” Asia Newson, who makes candles and merchandise.
Tune in to ABC at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, to watch Tonneau compete on "Shark Tank."
Multimedia business & healthcare reporter Chloe Aiello can be reached via email at [email protected] or twitter.com/chlobo_ilo.
Subscribe to Denverite’s newsletter here.
