From December 14–16, 2025, JA Company Program students showcased their entrepreneurial skills at the Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver, BC.
Across three busy market days, these young entrepreneurs brought their pop-up shops to life, offering a range of unique products—from handmade crafts to innovative, youth-designed creations—while engaging directly with customers in a real-world retail environment.
For many student teams, this was their first-ever market experience. Participating companies gained hands-on experience in sales, customer communication, pitching, teamwork, and adaptability, while receiving valuable real-time feedback on their products and pricing.
As one student shared, “It helped increase awareness of our youth-run business,” while another reflected that the Market provided “quick, valuable feedback that helped us refine our product and selling approach.” Experiences like the Shipyards Christmas Market play a vital role in helping young people develop employability skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial readiness.
“The Market gave us quick, valuable feedback on our product and helped us identify which SKUs to keep and which to cut.”
— Serenity Candles Co., Student Company“Participating helped us cover production costs early and achieve 10% of our projected sales for the entire session.”
— Magnito, Student Company
Your support helped make this opportunity possible. By shopping with our student vendors, community members directly supported youth-led businesses and meaningful learning experiences. Ten percent of all proceeds from student sales were donated to JA British Columbia to support the delivery of programs for youth across the province. A Giving Tree was also available on-site for direct contributions, with JABC staff present throughout the weekend to share information about volunteering and getting involved.
Watch the highlights: Explore interview videos from the Shipyards Christmas Market to see what JA Company Program students had to say.
Student Companies Participating:
Magnitō
Magnetis & Menarik Magnetic Accessories
Magnetic temporary hem clips and shirt accessories designed to adjust clothing seamlessly or add stylish dimension.
Serenity Candles Co.
Water Candles & Beverage Candles
Handmade soy-coconut candles designed for relaxation. Features a unique floating-wax Water Candle design with customizable scents and themes.
FloraStamp Collective
Floral Eco-Print Tote Bags
Handcrafted 100% cotton totes featuring botanical eco-prints made with pressed flowers and leaves. Each bag is one-of-a-kind and eco-friendly.
SoapBBox
Eco-Friendly Soap
Handmade soaps with seed-paper packaging. A portion of proceeds supports a local bumblebee rescue centre.
OttaStick
OttaStick Suction-Cup Keychains
Multi-use suction keychains that hold small items on smooth surfaces. Features holiday-exclusive charms and colours.
Bloom Buddies
3D-Printed Plant Pots
Small, colourful plant pots with cheerful cartoon faces—available in pink, green, yellow, and blue.
Skunks
Eco-Friendly Odor Absorbers
Reusable bean bags that absorb moisture and odour, helping sports gear dry faster and stay fresh.
Rockiez
Aroma Stones
Minimal, handcrafted stones that gently release fragrance to refresh desks, bedrooms, or nightstands.
Learn more about JA’s flagship entrepreneurship program at jabc.org/companyprogram