A Young Entrepreneur's Journey: Julian Lin's Business Ventures

From Fruit Stand to Business Mogul

Julian Lin, a 10-year-old from the Upper West Side, has been making waves in the business world since he was just four years old. His journey began at a local fruit stand, where he learned the ropes of selling produce to customers. This early experience sparked his interest in business, and he hasn't looked back since.

The Art of Negotiation

Inspired by his grandfather, an art dealer from the Netherlands, Julian learned the art of negotiation and haggling. He honed his skills at various neighborhood businesses, including a bakery and a cheese shop, where he developed a fondness for selling Australian Meredith Dairy cheese.

The Birth of J's DINR

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Julian saw an opportunity and started his first solo business venture, J's DINR. This delivery-only "restaurant" offered homemade food like granola, carrot soup, and chocolate zucchini cake to residents in his building and his grandmother's neighborhood. The idea came to him when he realized that food delivery services like GrubHub charged extra fees, and he wanted to provide a more affordable option.

The Bobanade Revolution

Julian also started a lemonade stand, initially using free lemons from his volunteer work at the fruit stand. However, he quickly realized that he needed to make a profit, so he conducted market research and discovered that his second-grade peers couldn't tell the difference between his fresh-squeezed lemonade and the store-bought version. To make his lemonade stand out, he added popping boba, creating a unique product called Bobanade. Today, he makes around $250 a week from his lemonade stand.

A Heart for Giving Back

But Julian is not just a businessman; he also has a heart for giving back. He donates 30% of his earnings to the Best Friends Animal Society, an organization dedicated to helping animals. In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, he was invited to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on February 8, 2024.

Expanding His Empire

Julian's entrepreneurial spirit doesn't stop at his lemonade stand. He also sells custom-designed tote bags, bucket hats, and other household items on his website. Recently, he organized a Kids Business Fair at The Grand Bazaar NYC, where he and 14 other young entrepreneurs sold their self-made products. As always, 30% of the earnings went to a charity of their choice.

Parenting an Entrepreneur

Julian's parents describe parenting him as "like being invited to go on this great adventure." His mother, Julie Meerschwam, who works in video production, says that raising Julian has been a fun and unique experience. Julian's top piece of advice for his fellow businessmen? "Learn how to haggle, and how to block a haggle."