How to Build a Lemonade Stand
Wondering how to build a lemonade stand? Who can ever resist a cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade on a summer day?
Lemonade stands are summer staples and a great way for kids to learn about the basics about business. It is very easy to learn how to build a lemonade stand, and learning this fun how-to project can help you create a great stand. It can be made of cardboard or plywood. The wooden lemonade will be sturdier but the cardboard one will be easier to move around and to store.
How to Build a Lemonade Stand Made of Wood
For the wooden stand, you will need to use thin plywood to maintain a relatively lighter lemonade stand.
First measure the length from your child’s waist down to the floor to determine the height of the counter top. Next, cut two pieces of the plywood with the length you’ve measured and width of about 20-25 inches. Cut two additional pieces of the counter top height with a 12 inch width. Take one of the larger pieces of wood and cut the center square out. Leave four inches of wood on all sides. Cut a rectangular piece that measures 12 inches wide. Its length should be equivalent to the measurement you have decided upon for the width of the large piece of wood.
Assembling the Pieces
Take the largest piece of plywood and lay it on the floor or against a wall. Nail or screw the sidepieces to the corners of the large piece. Nail that piece with the cutout you’ve made to the sidepieces. This forms the lemonade stand’s box with an opening reserved for the lemonade supplies. Screw or nail your counter top into place. For a smoother counter top surface, you can have it laminated.
Attaching the Roof
Take four dowels that are 5 inches in diameter. To determine their lengths, you should measure the distance from your child’s waist to just a few inches above his or her head. Screw the four dowels onto the stand’s counter top at all corners. Cut two wooden boards measuring about 14 inches and a width based on the length of the front plywood.
Nail the board together on an angle in order to form a point. Install the roof on the dowels and nail them. Next, screw thread spool or a wood block onto all bottom corners. That’s it! You can then paint and embellish the lemonade stand according to your premises.
Building a Cardboard Stand
Knowing how to build a lemonade stand out of cardboard is easier than building one out of good. For the cardboard version, take a cardboard box and turn it upside down. Preferably, use a box with flaps to make the lemonade stand more secure.
Level cut the small flaps off the cardboard box and tape them across the larger flaps to shut them. Cut another cardboard piece for your roof. That piece should be about 24-26 inches in length with a width the same as the cardboard box. Position the cardboard sheets on top of the dowels and glue them into place. Then you can paint and decorate your lemonade stand!
Tips for a Successful Lemonade Stand
Once kids have the perfect stand, there are several things they can do to maximize business:
- Find your Unique selling Proposition USP and niche. This will differentiate your stand from others. Perhaps you can collaborate with a charitable institution and donate a percentage of your profits to them.
- Pick a good location. Place your stand in front of your home if you reside next door to a commercial establishment. Just make sure you get a lot of foot traffic. The more passers-by, the more profit you can make.
- Never skimp on quality. Only buy the best ingredients and make the best lemonade possible. Let your customers know about your high-quality product and surely, they will patronize you.
- Don’t be afraid to charge a lot. Remember that you’re a cute kid selling good quality lemonade. Especially if you’re tied up with a good cause, your customers should be willing to pay more.
- Diversify your products. Use your lemonade stand to sell other products. Why not sell a pink lemonade variant or some cookies and muffins as well?
- Trust your instincts. Mistakes are inevitable. Just make sure you learn from them.