2500% Profit in 1 Day - Story of my 1st business!

I was just 11 years old, in the sixth grade, when I unknowingly took my first step into the world of business. It all began with a simple school event—the annual Science Fair. While many of my classmates were excitedly preparing science projects, I found myself disinterested. However, the fair had another section—one that allowed students to set up small food stalls and sell their creations. That caught my attention.

At first, I had no plans to participate in either. But as my friends started discussing their food stall ideas, enthusiasm spread. I joined the conversation, and before I knew it, we were brainstorming ideas for our own stall. Our excitement quickly turned into concern, though—most of the popular food choices had already been taken by other groups. Vadapav, sandwiches, cold drinks—all the usual suspects were gone.

That’s when a thought struck us: With so many food stalls selling snacks, wouldn’t people need something refreshing to drink? The fair was on the rooftop of our five-story school building, and by midday, visitors would be exhausted and thirsty after climbing all those stairs. A cool drink would be in demand, and instead of sugary sodas, we could offer something healthier—a milkshake.

With that decision made, we pooled our limited funds and planned our stall. We bought five liters of milk, a bottle of rose syrup, and a few disposable cups. In total, our investment was around ₹200. The night before the fair, we excitedly planned how to run the stall, hoping that at least a few people would buy our milkshake.

The next morning, the fair began. By 9 AM, students and teachers started arriving, visiting stalls, and trying out different foods. But as the hours passed, we noticed a worrying trend—while other stalls were bustling with customers, our milkshake stand remained mostly empty. The smell of fried snacks filled the air, and people seemed more interested in vadapav and sandwiches. By 11:30 AM, we had sold only a few glasses, and we started to lose hope.

Hunger set in, and we began bartering with other stall owners—exchanging our milkshakes for their food. It felt like a way to salvage something out of the day. But then, something unexpected happened.

As the midday sun blazed and visitors crowded the rooftop, the demand for something refreshing skyrocketed. People were looking for an alternative to the carbonated cold drinks, and our milkshakes suddenly became a popular choice. Within 30 minutes, we sold out of our five liters of milk!

Realizing the opportunity, two of my teammates rushed to buy more milk. We restocked with another three liters, then five more, and before we knew it, we had created a ‘live milkshake’ stall, preparing fresh drinks right in front of the customers. Word spread fast, and soon, our stall was one of the busiest at the fair.

By the end of the day, we had sold nearly 40–50 liters of milkshake. Our total expenses, including multiple restocks, remained around ₹200. But our earnings? A staggering ₹5,000 in profit.

The Lesson Learned

That day, I learned one of the most valuable business lessons—success isn’t about following the crowd; it’s about identifying what people actually need. While everyone else focused on selling food, we unknowingly solved a problem—offering a much-needed cool and refreshing drink on a hot day.

More than just a fun school event, this experience planted the first seed of my entrepreneurial journey. It taught me to observe, adapt, and think ahead. Business is not about doing what everyone else is doing—it’s about understanding the moment, spotting opportunities, and taking action.

Who would have thought that a simple milkshake stall at a school fair would teach me a lifelong lesson about innovation, adaptability, and market demand? And that, perhaps, was my first real taste of entrepreneurship.

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