How a Maine Kid’s Creative Marketing Lured Me to His Lemonade Stand

This is Kolton. He's 7 years old and he likes to do things that are fun. What kid doesn't? But doing things that are fun can cost money, so what's a 7-year-old kid without a job supposed to do? Open an old-fashioned lemonade stand and be determined to get you to stop with his ingenious marketing strategy.

Kolton lives in Raymond at 192 Meadow Road which is also Route 121. Now before you flip out that I'm giving out this kid's address, wait for it.

I was driving down Meadow Road as a detour heading home from South Paris. Route 26 traffic in Oxford was backed up forever because of paving. As I turned a corner I could see a kid on his front lawn holding a sign high above his head. I couldn't read it until I was just about to pass him.

I smiled as I passed thinking back to when I tried to sell lemonade as a kid and didn't sell a dime's worth. It was 1979 so a dime went a lot further than it does today. The $2 price is right where it should be.

I had to turn back and buy some lemonade because this kis was working it like a pro. I pulled up to him, got out of the car, and asked his name. Mom immediately came out of the front door just to be on the safe side. I don't blame her. A strange man showing up asking a kid his name is something you want to keep an eye on.

I then introduced myself to Kolton and his mom, Kayla, said "I recognize that voice." I said hello to her and then handed Kolton a $20 bill for 10 lemonades, but I told him to keep the lemonade. "I'll give you this $20 bill Kolton," I said, "But you have to promise me you'll come back tomorrow and open your stand back up because I want to help you try to get a whole bunch of customers."

He then proceeded to tell me I was his first customer to which I said I was honored. Kolton said he would open his stand on Saturday, so I asked his mom if I could take his picture and give out his address. She was perfectly fine with that and now you know Kolton.

Casco Days is going on this weekend not far from Kolton's house. You might even drive right by it, so if you're on Meadow Road on Saturday, July 29, stop and buy a lemonade from Kolton so he can do fun stuff. If he's going to be putting in this much effort, I really hope he sells gallons and gallons of lemonade.

Kolton's Lemonade Stand
192 Meadow Road - Route 121
Raymond

Tell him I sent you.