Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Product sources The Rising Price of Kool-Aid

A few weeks back, when we were on a family vacation, we stayed at a place that was just off the beach and had a lot of light foot traffic moving right by on a regular basis. My four year old girl was pining to set up a stand selling lollypops to the pedestrians, however, the only problem was that she wanted to charge $3.00 per lollypop. Of course, I had no desire to set up such a venture, so it was not hard to try and argue that one could buy a whole bag of the same lollypops for less than $3.00. While she didn't quite accept that logic, I went further to inform her that we didn't have the proper permits and would most likely be arrested. This finally gave her some pause.

This past Saturday, after having been home from vacation, I was watching both the daughter and the two year old boy for most of the day, and of course, the idea pops up to make and sell Kool-Aid on the street. The issue of pricing quickly came up.

The girl has some attraction to a $3.00/unit price. I had to talk her down. I explained how much Kool-Aid one could get for $3.00 and how the 5 oz. cup that we would offer for $3.00 would not be kindly accepted.

We ended up at a negotiated settlement of $2.00 per 5 oz. cup of Kool-Aid.

I felt at this point, that I might need to set a proper example of simple economics and the basic concepts of supply & demand, as well as a study on impulse buying. I felt certain I could also demonstrate how human nature, in general, factors into sales
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If I priced Beer & Wine at a cheaper, more reasonable rate, surely I could show my daughter how these things worked, and who would be more successful after having intelligently set a price point.

In the end, we sold out of the Kool-Aid twice, although, my kids had a problem with drinking the inventory. The two year old boy was acting hog-wild by the side of the street after having had some 10 cups of Kool-Aid. Trust me, I couldn't stop him from trying to keep drinking it. I even made it light on the sugar end. It was hot out though.

I, too, drank some of the inventory, but I only sold one drink.

I'm not sure what I've taught my daughter now. I tried to tell every Kool-Aid client that a dime would do it, but everyone insisted to pay full price.

So, in hindsight, I pretty much have no idea what I'm talking about, and I now have to consider if I should quit my day job.

How many of the buyers were kids or moms?

How much did she get from the tooth fairy? That may well be where her skewed logic came from. Funny stuff.

For reference, in my day, the hawking slogan was:

Dang, that's a pretty old reference.......for such a young guy.

I'm sure it comes as a great shock to all of us who know Sunil that his 2-year old would spend all day drinking Kool-Aid after Kool-Aid.

Does that include one jigger or two of Captain Morgan's?

We spent this last week up at our property (I'll post about it in another thread). Prior to going up there we stop by the grocery store to stock up on food to take to the ranch. We bought about a dozen bags of sugar free Kool Aid mix (JHAP is on a diet, hence the sugar free, and JHAP also gets board drinking plain water, hence the Kool Aid). So we're standing in the checkout line and this senior citizen is putting our groceries in a bag. Steaks, corn, sandwich makings, then the Kool Aid. He looks at the Kool Aid mix and then looks at me then looks at the Kool Aid mix and then looks at me again. He says to me "You have kids at home?" I replied "Nope." He says "Who's the Kool Aid for?" I say "it's mine ." Then he says to me "I guess some folks never out grow Kool Aid?"

I have read the instructions on the bag very carefully several times over. I see no reference to an age limit.

This story is true, the names have been changed to protect the innocent and the not so innocent.


Great photo and story Sunil. You are raising a great capitalistic entrepreneur. It makes my CPA heart happy.

We had kids and adults patronizing our ramshackle establishment.

Regarding what she got from the tooth fairy, I'd have to go back and check, but I think it was a buck or two. You have to understand that she lost that tooth when she was about two years old. She fell off of a picnic bench at a party. There was some blood and a little bit of crying, and we though she just cut her lip. When we got home a few hours later, we found out that her tooth was plum gone.

The next morning, I went back to the accident scene, and sure enough, her entire tooth was there on the ground. Man were we feeling bad. Funny thing is now I can't really remember her without the NHL Goalie look.

"There was some blood and a little bit of crying...."

Enough about you, how did your daughter react?

Ha ha ha. Really laughing here!

That girl's smile could sell ketchup popsicles to a woman in white gloves, Sunil you never stood a chance. I would have spent the cash for the Koolaid and had a couple beers though if they were cold, just to help you out of course...

Sunil you are a lucky man she is awesome! She will make a great CEO of a large company someday. I was wondering how a four year old was missing her front tooth so early.

In getting absolutely owned by a four year-old, Sunil learned a valuable lesson. Never underestimate the salesmanship of a young and pretty female.

You beat me to it. A friend of mine used to own 2 hot dog stands in pretty high traffic areas. He got the second one when his daughter started college. He ran one, she ran the other. He wore shorts/t-shirts, flip-flops and a smile. She wore a 2 piece bikini (against his wishes). Can you guess who outsold the other by over 3 to 1? He now jokes that hot dogs put his daughter through college. LOL

Jeff, that's a great idea. If Sunil put on a 2 piece, can you imagine the uncontrollable stampede to buys hot dogs from his daughter. Ha, and everyone thinks Sunil is such a great businessman.

That is a scary pic to think about Randy (S in a 2 piece). ROFLOL. - - --

What if Sunil waxed first?

I dont care who Sunil waxes; I just dont wanna see a photo of a waxing moon.

It all started with a simple glass of kool aid on a hot day.....

And this is where we end up??? For Shame.

I want it documented that my only post on this thread was relative and in good taste.

Duly noted. Are you feeling OK?