Many kids grew up having lemonade stands on those hot sunny days outside their houses, making money from neighbors who thought they were cute or kind strangers. Most kids wouldn't make that much money, maybe $5 at the most. I knew when I was younger, the most money I ever made making lemonade was like $15. Nothing exciting.
Lemonade stands did not create a lot of money for me living in a small neighborhood selling over-sugary, powdered lemonade. But, selling a twist on sugary lemonade into healthy lemonade has made a young girl very popular. Mikaila Ulmer, an 11-year-old from Austin, Texas, has become very famous with her lemonade brand "Me and the Bees" formerly called "BeeSweet Lemonade."
What's her story?
According to the company's website Bee Sweet Lemonade, Mikaila had been 4 years old when her whole idea came to be. While thinking of her idea of what she wanted to do she had gotten stung by two bees at once. Most people would believe that would be an extremely traumatizing time for a child, and at the time it was for her. But, then something great happened with it. Her great Grandma Helen sent a family cookbook from the 1940s. It had been a flax seed lemonade, and at this time she was fascinated by Bees, so she decided to combine the both.
Where did she get her start?
Mikaila had started to sell her lemonade at Entrepreneurial events, while donating a percentage of her profits to local and international organizations to save honeybees.
Sweet Deal
Mikaila decided she wanted to do more with her lemonade. So she decided to go on the ABC hit show Shark Tank. She had hoped that one of the sharks would be able to help her get her product on the shelves. All three of the sharks decided they would be out, but then Daymond decided he would give a 25% for $60,000 deal to young Mikalia, and she decided to take the deal. So she became partners with Daymond to get her product on actual shelves in stores.
Where to buy?
According to NBC NEWS Mikaila's lemonade is now being sold in 55 Whole Foods, in states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Florida.
What happened next?
Mikaila knew she didn't want to stop there and that she knew she could do more with her company. Also according to NBC NEWS she accepted an honor as Movement 50 Top 10 Innovators of the Year. She also expanded distribution through United Natural Foods and Beverages.
Where is she now?
Mikaila is very motivated and bright for her age and being a 6th grade she was able to start a company at the age of eleven, she obviously had help from her parents, but a lot of it is on her own. According to the company website she does a lot of workshops on how to save honeybees. She is a social entrepreneur, bee ambassador, educator, and student according to the Bee Sweet Lemonade. She works on her company on the weekends, and go to school during the weekdays.
Her lemonade can also be bought online Bee Sweet Lemonade Store, the lemonade is sold in different flavors such as Lemonade with Ginger, Lemonade with Ice Tea, Lemonade with Mint, and Lemonade with Prickly Pear.
