Southwest Washington's Lemonade Day Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Named by the Greater Vancouver Chamber

Tatum Talbert, a 10-year-old from Camas, Wash. who owns Tatum and Her Gnomies, was named the 2024 Southwest Washington Lemonade Day Youth Entrepreneur of the Year by the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC). Talbert was recognized for her exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, outstanding achievements and commitment to excellence.

"Being named Youth Entrepreneur of the Year is an honor and the culmination of five years of hard work,” said Talbert. “Lemonade Day has been an incredible program for learning about entrepreneurship, setting financial goals, and perfecting my business plan. I encourage other kids to pursue their ideas, have fun, and enjoy the journey."

Lemonade Day, an initiative led by the GVC and presented by Main Squeeze OnPoint Community Credit Union, provides children ages six to 16 with hands-on experience running a small business. The program culminates at the GVC’s Junior Market, where Talbert stood out for her business acumen, creativity, dedication to her craft and for exemplifying the valuable lessons learned from Lemonade Day.

"The most exciting part of the Junior Market is meeting my customers and sharing my products with them," continued Talbert. Her charming sales pitch, "Welcome to Tatum and Her Gnomies, where every gnomie gets a homie, and you are that homie," never fails to captivate visitors.

Tatum’s Gnomes Capture Hearts and Sales

Talbert’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2019 when she was just five years old, selling a diverse range of handcrafted items. Talbert’s unique line of decorative gnome dolls was her hottest item, so she focused her efforts on expanding the product line to include seasonal designs and new themes. Her latest collection, "Gnomes around the World," showcased her heritage with Japanese, Irish, Guatemalan, and American-themed gnomes.

Talbert received a prize package which included a $100 cash prize, an Amazon Fire Tablet and an official winner certificate. OnPoint matched her prize, providing an additional $100.