The Indians Abroad

Kifds' Lemonade Stand

They say – if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I say, start a lemonade stand; or start a business that runs like a lemonade stand.

Why? What is there to learn from a bunch of kids sitting on a street corner or in front of their house, selling lemonade to the passers-by on a hot sunny day?

Well, quite a lot. The lemonade stand has some of the most commonsense at display, when it comes to operating a business.
See it for yourself, some of the common characteristics of a kids’ lemonade stand:

1.Simple and straight-forward: Nothing complicated or flashy – one table or desk, disposable glasses, a piggy-bank or a container for cash and lemonade making supplies- that’s all. That is all the kids need to run their business. Simple but yet so complete, as if nothing is missing.

2. No tricks, no guises: Everything is on the table; there are no tricks and no hidden agenda. Everyone passing by knows what to expect from a kids’ lemonade stand.

3. A Warm Welcome: The kids always welcome their ‘customers’ with a smile. They always have an enthusiasm about their endeavors. As soon as you walk in (or drive in) to the lemonade stand, you feel at home.

4. Flexible and adaptable: There is no major baggage to worry about; a kids’ lemonade stand is very adaptable and scalable. If the rain or if storm comes, for example, it takes no time to fold up the shop and gather the supplies to move into the shelter of a garage or a veranda.

5. Spreading the word: Everybody in the neighborhood, who steps outside, finds out about the kids and their lemonade stand. Kids are very good at spreading the word, advertising their lemonade stand to every passerby – pedestrians and drivers alike.

6. Entertaining and interesting: While the customers enjoy their lemonade, kids are always busy with something ‘cool’, something refreshing. It is never boring. They may be telling some funny anecdote, singing carelessly, running after each other, reacting to the tip they just received, performing some cheers/ dance-routines, juggling lemons or doing something else to attract and entertain the customers.

7. Fun, yet business like: The kids are always likable; the service – the lemonade – they provide is fun and enjoyable. And yet, you know that it is a business. It is a business that seems so natural. Most of the neighbors always want to go there and be a part of the simple gig.

8. Satisfaction guaranteed: Lemonade is so easy to make, nobody cane screw it up, not even kids. When we walk in or drive in for a glass of lemonade, we know that it is not a 5-star restaurant; we were not looking for a strawberry on top of a fancy looking glass. We always get a drink of what we expected.

9. Have a guardian angel: One may think that kids are out there among strangers at their own, but there is always some guardian in the back-ground or in the nearby house. Someone – a parent or an older sibling – is always watching, always there to protect the young ones. There is always a back-up support.

10. Community service: The lemonade stand not only quenches your thirst and makes you smile; it also brings the community together. It provides a platform for the neighbors to interact, to take a break or re-group.

A business that is simple, well-understood, easily adaptable and with a global appeal – sounds like a winning combination. We can always learn a thing or two if look around; and if we look up to the kids.

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