He was once just a mild-mannered fifth-grader from Woodbury, New Jersey.
But this summer, coming to an event near you, meet Jamison, AKA, THAT Kid…The Hot Dog KING!
At the ripe old age of 11, Jamison has started a business selling hot dogs, snacks and drinks from a traveling booth he’ll set up at parades, festivals and other events over the course of the summer and beyond.
“I always wanted to start a business,” Jamison said during a recent appearance at the festival and fireworks event in his hometown of Woodbury.
When it comes to why he chose this particular model for his first venture, Jamison’s answer displayed his all-business approach.
“Hot dogs are easy to make and they taste good,” he said.
Though he’s just gotten started, Jamison said things have been going well so far.
By his side in this adventure is Jamison’s family, led by his mom Jacqueline Waxman.
She said Jamison expressed an interest to her about starting a business around a year ago. She said she thought it might be a passing phase, but that he persisted in his desire to become an entrepreneur.
She said she felt compelled to help him make his dream a reality.
“Jamison has dyslexia and really struggled with 5th grade,” the supportive mom said. “I saw the self confidence in my child fading. I had to do something and this business has helped him already!”
So this summer they started putting a plan in motion, and the mother and son team began securing the equipment and supplies necessary to run the fledgling food business, along with all the required licensing, permits and insurance.
For advice, she turned to the popular Facebook community group South Jersey Food Scene (created and administered by our partner Marilyn Johnson), and they were off and running.
They soon found a company to act as their commissary kitchen in the Broad & Maple event venue in Gibbstown, along with potential partnerships to sell local products.
They also found a number of local businesses so moved by Jamison’s entrepreneurial spirit that they helped offset his start-up costs by donating funds and becoming sponsors of the venture.
Jamison’s mom said pending updates to the business include expanding their available toppings options to things like cheese and chili, while a full-blown hot dog cart is a goal for further down the road.
Jamison’s motives behind his business are also philanthropic in nature, as he said he wants to ultimately donate a portion of his proceeds to charity, something his mom said is part of a growing national trend.
“There’s a kid entrepreneur movement across the country, where kids open up businesses,” she said. “They choose a charity of the month that’s local, and all of their events that month – a portion goes to that charity.”
Some of that charitable spirit will already be on display this Fourth of July, when they’ll set up their hot dog stand outside Angel’s Community Outreach in Pitman, for that town’s Independence Day Parade. They will donate 20 percent of the day’s proceeds to the Angel’s charity, which provides clothing, food and more to those in need.
With a few events already under his belt, a whole lot more scheduled for the coming month, and big plans for the future, Jamison is truly on his way to becoming hot dog royalty.
For more information about his business, especially if you’d like to book him for an upcoming event, you can find him at That Kid the Hot Dog KING on Facebook.
