This week you’ve read about organizations dedicated to helping young people discover their inner entrepreneur, as well as tips and tools to help those who’ve already made their foray into free enterprise. In this final piece of our four-part series about youth entrepreneurship, we’re taking a look at startup ventures by young students. For these people, balancing school, friends, chores, marketing strategies, and customer demands are daily tasks.
With a penchant for making money and a grasp of their life’s passions, these young money savvy students successfully run burgeoning businesses. Check out who they are and what they do:
K-9 Kouture
With a passion for fashion and a love of dogs, Jada Marie Nicome founded K-9 Kouture last fall after developing the business plan for an in-class competition. “Ever since I was little I wanted a dog so I could dress him up,†Nicome says. “I never thought I could create a business out of it.†But indeed she did, winning the class competition, and joining the market of pooch clothiers.
Pet owners can choose from K-9 Kouture’s line of sweaters with quirky quotes and jazz up their puppy’s apparel with rhinestones or Swarovski crystals. Since launching K-9 Kouture last November, the 18-year-old has sold more than 50 units of her signature sweaters, raking in $800 to $900.
Nicome expects to sell 180 units in the upcoming year ranging from $30 to $50 a pop, depending on size and design. The Maryland native is also working out a deal with the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to provide signature hoodies for its dogs.
Simply Last Video Production
When Jonathan Bryson’s family was preparing for his grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration, Jonathan wanted to do something special. Noticing the countless pictures his grandmother had socked away, he decided to produce a video featuring the photos. “After that a lot of people began asking me about it,†says Bryson. “I started doing it for them as side projects and turned it into a business.â€
He launched Simple Last Video Production in 2007, specializing in filming and editing video for parties, special events, and other special occasions. The company is growing through word of mouth, and in 2008 Bryson generated $2,300 in revenue. Now a sophomore in college, he’s taking advantage of the various events and organizations and expects to bring in $7,000 in revenue by the end of 2009.
“In entrepreneurship there’s no one to really push you. Here, you have to motivate yourself, but it’s easy because I’m doing something I really love,†Bryson says.
Innovative Event Concepts
A battle with the Maryland school system helped Brandon Haynes develop the courage and perseverance to start his own business. After being evicted from his Maryland home in 2001, Haynes along with his mother and four brothers were forced to seek shelter with relatives in Washington D.C. But when the family couldn’t provide proof of residency for either school district, a federal court battle ensued, forcing Haynes to miss most of his junior year of high school.
After months of fighting, Haynes was allowed back in his Maryland school where he was forced to play a tough game of catch up. And it was while taking an entrepreneurship class his senior year that Haynes developed the idea for his event planning company.
“I always had a passion for planning events,†says the 24-year-old. “When I was six-years-old I lived at the bottom of a big hill and I wanted to plan a soap derby.†Now, Haynes plans proms and sporting events, and has even parlayed his entrepreneurial endeavors and disadvantaged past into speaking gigs.
Between event planning and public speaking he expects to close out the year with $30,000 in revenue. He charges $1,000 to $2,000 per speaking engagement and commands 15% of the total budget for events he plans.
While he specializes in sporting affairs, Haynes will plan almost any event, with weddings being the only exception. “I want to have a replica of the NBA All Star Weekend here in DC,†he says. “I’d like to have a large community event.â€
Divinity Chocolates
After working for her godmother’s chocolate business for five and a half years, Alisha Wiggins decided to branch out on her own to create Divinity Chocolates. The 17-year-old says it’s not easy running her own business, but it’s definitely worth it.
“I answer to myself. I have the authority to decide what I want to market,†Wiggins says.
Divinity Chocolates specializes in custom chocolate treats. Even with balancing high school and her business, Wiggins has managed to generate $1,000 in revenue since launching in February.
Recently, she’s slowed down from the actual day-to-day business to focus on school and building the Divinity Chocolates Website. “I’m also applying for my vendors license, and I’m working on getting my original recipes patented and my logo trademarked,†says the Cleveland native. She expects to generate $1,500 in revenue by the end of this year.
Luxes Industries
Blaine Mickens learned how to get his friends to part with their money at an early age. In 7th grade he set up shop at school selling candy. By the time Mickens graduated high school, his company, Sweet Tooth, became a candy distributor at three local schools.
But the now 19-year-old is setting his sights higher with the launch of Luxes Industries, a holding company for Estate Groomers, a landscaping business and Young Picasso Painting, a commercial and private real estate painting company.
“I’ve been leveraging my own personal brand and my own personality to keep the companies going,†says the Cleveland native.
Mickens started Estate Groomers in the summer of 2004 when he began landscaping to make extra money. Business thrived and the company grew. “I have roughly five part- time employees.†He later started Young Picasso Painting where he hires independent contractors for local paint jobs.
But the enterprising mogul refuses to rest on his laurels. He’s working on launching a Website called MogulsAndBarons.com that will feature video interviews of a range of entrepreneurs. He’s also in the planning stages to launch Flawless Mobile Detail under his holding company. The car maintenance business will provide vehicle detailing services to clients at their homes.
Further Reading
Part 1: Youth Use Entrepreneurship As a Pathway to Success