Celebrating 20 Years of Bratz Biz: An Interview with Organizer Lee Schwartz

The Bratz Biz crew in their festive best!

Bratz Biz is Whistler’s annual youth artisan entrepreneur Christmas market, and 2025 marks 20 incredible years of creativity, business skills, and brilliant young minds putting themselves out there.  

Community Futures Howe Sound began sponsoring Bratz Biz in 2020 and is proud to continue supporting the event and ensuring it can run every year.  

To learn more about the anniversary, common misconceptions, and what young entrepreneurs should know if they’re thinking of applying, we sat down with organizer Lee Schwartz for a quick interview.  

Bratz Biz is celebrating its 20th year - are there any special plans in the works for the anniversary? 

“Yes! Bratz Biz has taken on organizing the musical entertainment that's in the main entrance of The Westin and bringing in as many kid musicians as we can.” 

"We have at least four hours of kid acts secured at this point, so we're super excited about that.” 

“Then we are also doing more entertainment on the mezzanine level in front of the Mountain Club between the two markets. We are looking at having a balloon twister, some roving people that go between the markets to tell people about what's happening, and possibly some comedy aspects.”  

"We also run a craft table. We try to make it a craft that's fun for all ages, from small kids to adults, so they can sit down and craft for a few minutes in the busy holiday season.” 

Are there any exciting new stalls we should look out for this year?  

“One of the stalls that I'm super excited to have back again is A Crackin’ Christmas - Christmas crackers. His goal is to make them environmentally friendly, so that you could either bunch it all up and throw it in the fire pit or stick it in the recycling.”  

Have you seen any past participants go on to run local businesses? 

“Yes! My daughters, for example, ran the Whistler Nut Butter Company, and they sold their peanut butter at Bratz Biz first. They went on to sell their peanut butter at Whistler Farmers’ Market, Squamish Farmers’ Market, South Caribou Farmers’ Market, Interlakes Farmers’ Market, and the Loon Bay Craft Fair.” 

Another Bratz Biz participant that has gone on to run a local business is Liv Finlay Designs, explains Lee.  

“She makes pretty earrings made from polymer clay. And she sells at Bratz Biz, the Whistler Farmers’ Market and at Squamish Farmers’ Market.“ 

“The other interesting thing is that we have had businesses with succession passed on from one kid to the next.” 

“Brooke had Lucky Star Soy Candles, and she passed it on to a girl named Jillian. Jillian now calls it Spruce Grove Candles. It's the same business, with the same business model. Of course, Jillian's twisted it a little bit to make it more her own, but definitely a pass-on.” 

“There was also a doll clothes business passed on by Zoe. Zoe spent an afternoon showing the new owner the patterns, passing the business on from one kid to the next.” 

What is your favorite part of Brat's Biz? 

“My favorite part of Brat's Biz is seeing the kids flourish selling. Lots of them are expert artisans, but most of them don't have as much experience with actually meeting people and selling their wares.” 

“It takes kids a while to learn and it's something that we try to teach, but I think it's more something that has to be learned by doing.” 

“My experience is that people are interested not only in what kids are selling, but also in their story. Like, how did you get here? How did you land on making peanut butter or making barn board products?” 

"Seeing kids that are so shy and can't look at people, and then all of a sudden they're smiling and making sales - that's my favorite part.” 

What is the most common misconception about Bratz Biz? 

“Most common misconception is the quality of the wares.” 

"For Bratz Biz, we do have what we call a ‘semi-professional standard’ for kids to sell their stuff. They are juried, and if stuff doesn't quite meet the standard, we give feedback to help them elevate the standard.” 

"I think that people often underestimate the quality of what they're going to see at Bratz Biz.” 

Community Futures proudly sponsors the event each year. How do these sponsorships help? 

"Without our sponsors, Bratz Biz wouldn't be able to run. When I first started as an organizer, I was fairly gob stopped at how much it costs to put on a market like this.” 

"I did a lot of searching, like, is it worth it? But when, once you are in it, you realize, oh my goodness, yes, it's worth it!” 

"So, without significant amounts of fundraising and sponsorship, the kids couldn't do it. The cost for them to participate would outweigh any profits that they made and make it not accessible to many of the children that do participate.” 

For the kids, explains Lee, it can be an important side hustle for their spending money. 

"We are always looking for more sponsors. Our long-term sponsors are so appreciated, like Community Futures Howe Sound, Nester’s Market, Creekside Market, Engel & Völkers Maggi Thornhill, and Metronomics.” 

What do you have to say to any young entrepreneurs thinking of signing up next year? 

“Kids are usually surprised that you need to start early in the year. We do our jury in the spring, usually in May or June.” 

Lee explains that doing the jury process later in the year doesn’t leave enough time for kids to prepare their wares. Plus, the summer break from school gives kids extra preparation time.  

“If you are an artisan entrepreneur, it's a super, super fun way to get your craft or art or food out there and have a side hustle, make a little bit of money and learn a heck of a lot along the way.” 

"We are so excited to have our 20th anniversary and to celebrate this huge milestone. Everywhere I turn in Whistler, I hear from people that did Bratz Biz 10 years ago, did Bratz Biz 15 years ago, and what a great thing that it is.” 

“I'm hopeful that Bratz Biz can continue for 20 more years."