Emma Carrigan, Lemonade entrepreneur.
By Lana Pierce
As ‘80s kids (pre-Interwebs, little supervision), our attempt at Lemonade Stand capitalism was rudimentary: we hoped somebody had a marker, some posterboard, and enough sugar to make yellow Kool-Aid.
Fast-forward to 2025, where the entrepreneurial efforts of pre-teens exceed expectations. Eight-year-old Emma Carrigan already has a savvy navigation of social media and a real penchant for Southern Lemonade, and it’s garnered plenty of attention.
Emma created the business a couple of years ago to make “shopping money”. “The most surprising thing,” she says, “is how many people come to support me every year!” She’s shared her success with her friends and family, describing the joy she finds in being able to buy them special gifts with her earnings.
According to her dad, Jarvis Carrigan, she’s careful with her money, dividing it among her college savings fund, tithing/offerings, and setting back just enough for a little “self-care”—well-deserved at the end of a long workday!
Lana Pierce is a captain with the North Little Rock Fire Department and owner of The RetroFit. Under a pen name, she has been published in over 200 books, journals, and newspapers.
