Mini Makers Markets Spotlight Young Entrepreneurs Leading the Way

Cairns Children's Festival Mini Makers Markets give young entrepreneurs aged 7 to 17 direct access to customers at a dedicated venue where they sell handmade goods and learn pricing and customer service.

The markets form part of the festival's program that runs alongside larger regional efforts to connect small operators with buyers. Cairns Regional Council runs its annual Meet the Buyer event that draws about 100 local small business owners to pitch to organisations on projects including the Cairns Hospital Expansion. The same council renewed its Small Business Friendly Council status and fast-tracked low-risk development applications while linking 88 local suppliers with major buyers during 2025.

Region-wide scale of small business activity

Cairns supports more than 14,800 local businesses that sustain over 88,000 jobs, with small and family businesses accounting for more than half of all employment in the area. These figures come from council records that also note the Cairns Chamber of Commerce naming dozens of finalists for the 2025 Business Excellence Awards, which include categories for Indigenous business and sustainability.

The designation as a Small Business Friendly Council has produced concrete steps such as reduced processing times for straightforward permits. That framework now sits alongside the Mini Makers Markets, which target the next generation of operators before they reach traditional startup age.

Next steps for participants

Parents or guardians interested in the Mini Makers Markets can check the Cairns Children's Festival schedule through the council website for stall application details and age requirements. Established operators can monitor the Meet the Buyer event listings or contact the Cairns Chamber of Commerce for Business Excellence Awards entry information in future rounds.