WESTPORT–The Westport Public Library briefly became a marketplace recently, when students in grades 5-8 ran the first-ever Mini Moguls Marketplace.

Founded and organized by Staples High School student Aanya Gandhi, the Feb. 5 event featured more than a dozen student-run businesses offering everything from handmade crafts to curated collections of gently used books and games.

Each “Mini Mogul” presented a professional poster board outlining their pricing strategies and marketing plans. To further the mission of financial empowerment, a financial literacy expert delivered a keynote presentation, emphasizing the long-term benefits of understanding money management at a young age.

“Seeing the creativity and professional polish these students brought to their booths was

inspiring,” said Superintendent Thomas Scarice. “Aanya Gandhi’s vision to create a space for financial literacy in action really resonated with the community.”

The marketplace provided a hands-on environment for students to practice real-world skills. Among them:

• Entrepreneurship: Managing inventory and engaging with customers.
• Marketing: Designing visual displays to attract foot traffic.
• Financial Literacy: Calculating costs and profits, and making change in real-time.

Organizers hope to make Mini Moguls Marketplace an annual event, providing young students with early exposure to entrepreneurship and financial decision-making.