The local 5 & Dime store sold the gum for 1 penny per piece. But even at age 11 basic economic theory was not lost upon me, understanding the law of supply and demand I provided gum for the entire fifth grade at the "bargain" price of 25 cents for 2 pieces. How did kids in 1978 have the money to pay 23-times the normal price of gum....and not bring their own supply from home? One of my classmates, offended at my prices would purchase gum and sell it at cost......but breaking even isn't the best business strategy and she quickly quit the business.....
On an average day my sales were between $5 and $7, good money back in 1978 for an 11 year old fleecing his classmates out of their milk money.... It's a wonder my career didn't progress to tobacco and then marijuana...... It is probably but for the grace of God I am not serving hard time for being your friendly neighborhood drug dealer!
Eventually a parent or two complained....and Mr. Wills, the principal shut down my operation. But for a while I was a prosperous business entrepreneur, age 11.......
