Raising Entrepreneurs

Teaching Kids About Money and Business
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Archive for the ‘business ideas’

Young Entrepreneurs Leverage Cherry Blossoms

September 07, 2009 By: Jenny Category: Young Entrepreneurs, business ideas 1 Comment →

Welcome back!

Young entrepreneurs use chery blossoms to draw a crowd.

Young entrepreneurs use chery blossoms to draw a crowd.

Strolling under the cherry blossoms arching out over Kenwood neighborhood streets in Bethesda on Saturday afternoon, Nadia Green’s thoughts drifted to another kind of promenade.

“I’d like to have a wedding in them,” said Green, 11, an Arlington, Va. resident. Fortunately for her the happy day is far off, because her mother, Barbara Porter, and two other friends mistook “Kenwood” for “Kensington” and arrived a few hours later than they expected.

Thousands of visitors like Green will visit the blossoming cherry trees in the 240-home neighborhood, often to enjoy a different kind of cherry blossom experience from that on display at the Tidal Basin in downtown Washington, D.C., and to escape the throng of tourists there.

One tradition that has sprung up alongside the cherry trees is the spate of tables loaded with drinks and baked treats along the streets, with Kenwood’s younger residents pitching their goods.

Town of Somerset resident Jay Jadeja, 12, and three of his friends set up their lemonade stand at the intersection of Dorset Avenue and the Capital Crescent Trail, near a major ingress and egress of Kenwood at Little Falls Parkway. After about two hours, they had sold about $40 of lemonade, which they proclaimed a good haul.

Asked if they still liked to climb the cherry trees, however, which some residents have said should be prohibited, Jadeja and his friends answered only with bashful smiles.

Further west on Dorset Avenue, young Gwen Lefkowitz was perched alertly in her chair behind a table of $1 lemonade and two-for-a-dollar chocolate chip cookies. At about 11 a.m. she said sales had been brisk, and said she was focused on business and not on pleasure because she wasn’t a big cherry blossom fan.

“I’m not as much of a flower person,” she said. “I’m more of a skater girl.”

Read the full story in Gazette.net

Young Entrepreneur – Erin

November 12, 2008 By: Jenny Category: Young Entrepreneurs, business ideas No Comments →

Blue Sipral Ear Rings by Erin, Young Enrepreneur

Blue Sipral Ear Rings by Erin, Young Enrepreneur

An enterprising high school junior has launched her own line of handcrafted jewelry, using recently-acquired web design skills and a totally-online marketing plan.

An enterprising high school junior has launched her own line of  handcrafted jewelry, using recently-acquired web design skills and a totally-online marketing plan.   The young entrepreneur is hoping to use the proceeds of her micro-enterprise to beef up her college fund.

Jewelry Designs by Erin is the work of 16-year-old Erin of Massachusetts.

After a basic high school course in HTML programming, Erin launched her website, http://www.jewelrydesignsbyerin.com,  on August 1, 2008.  The site features her handmade pierced and clip earrings in many colors and styles, and is geared toward the tastes of women of all ages.

Erin hopes to expand the site to include her beautiful handpainted gift boxes, as well as special lines of earrings and other accessories for each season of the year, particularly the Christmas holidays.

Source: PRWeb

Young Entrepreneur – Logan Cole

November 10, 2008 By: Jenny Category: News, business ideas 1 Comment →

Logan Cole had little trouble landing his first summer job thanks, in part, to the Ontario government.

The 17-year-old just started his own summer landscaping company and he’s doing well– both with the number of clients and the amount of money he is earning.

“I have been doing quite well for myself, way more than I could at my age working for someone else,” said the young entrepreneur.

It’s not only about the money, said Cole, who is entering Grade 12 at Nicholson Catholic College this fall.

“It’s been a great learning experience and working for myself has taught me a lot of things,” he said. “It has definitely taught me what the real world is like and how hard you have to work to succeed.”

Cole credits the Summer Company entrepreneur program funded by the provincial government and co-ordinated locally by Enterprise Quinte for giving him a head start in the business world.

“Without the $1,500 they gave me at the start, I’m not sure I would be at the point of success where I am,” he said. “And without the continuing mentoring classes and meetings, I don’t feel I would be as successful as I am now.”

Summer Company provides full-time students ages 15 to 29 with hands-on business training, mentoring and awards of up to $3,000 to help start up and run their own summer business.

Successful students are selected through a competitive process which required them to have a good idea for a business and prepare a detailed business plan.

They receive $1,500 at the beginning of the program to help with start-up costs and another $1,500 on the successful completion. In between, they have to undergo a minimum 12 hours of business training from mentors who are successful business people.

More than 350 students from across the province were accepted into Ontario’s 2008 Summer Company program.

Cole is among eight students from the Prince Edward-Hastings riding involved in the Summer Company program.

Leona Dombrowsky, the riding’s Liberal MPP, said young entrepreneurs selected for this year’s program will benefit greatly from the funding and mentorship they will receive through the program.

“The program will allow them to develop and apply fundamental business skills that will last a lifetime,” she said.

Lisa Price, program co-ordinator for Enterprise Quinte, said there are 12 students from the entire Quinte region — which extends beyond the provincial riding — participating in the Summer Company program.

Last summer, there were eight students involved from the Quinte region; in past summers, there have been as many as 18 operating summer companies.

Examples of companies this summer include personal home-fitness, child care, lawn maintenance, web design, video production, custom T-shirts and photography/specialty cards.

“There is a wide range of interesting summer companies. All the companies are successful and they’re all generating sales,” Price said.

One student is running his own high definition video production company.

“He owns all his own equipment and that’s rare because it allows him to keep his costs down.”

Price also singled out Cole for his landscaping business.

“He is well-rounded with the dealings of his business and doesn’t neglect any area of his operation. He is very conscious of his clients and seeing to their needs,” said Price.

Cole, meanwhile, said he knew he wanted to work for himself “and be my own boss.”

Being in business for himself has also taught him an important lesson.

“It’s a lot more work than you expect. When you come home, the job is not done. You still have to do all your book work and contacting clients.”

Why a landscaping company?

“I grew up doing this type of work around my house. I liked it and I enjoyed doing it,” he said. “Besides, I love being and working outdoors.”

Through Cole’s Landscaping Services, he provides lawn cutting, grub control, lawn repair and shrub and tree care services.

“I also build fences if people want because I’ve had lots of experience with that. I also build sheds and lay bricks around gardens. One of my specialties is natural stone walkways.”

Cole started May 31, handing out flyers and going door-to-door to acquire a client base. His business got a boost when he was asked by Nicholson principal Joan MacDonald to provide a quote to do some lawn maintenance work at the high school.

“I gave her a quote that she was pleased with. And I’m still maintaining some of the gardens at the school,” he said with a smile.

Nicholson is one of his 11 clients — the rest are homeowners.

“I got so busy that I was booked ahead of time. But I still have room to accept more business if they call me at 613-968-2861,” he said.

Cole plans to grow his landscaping business even after he returns to class in September.

He already has clients lined up to carry out lawn repairs and re-seeding during the fall and plans to do snow removal in the winter.

“Last winter, I did some snow removal for people, but that was by hand. This year, I hope to acquire a snowblower,” he said.

Cole will continue with the business next spring and summer and plans on taking some college business courses after he graduates next June.

“My career goal is to run a successful business of my own,” he said.

Source: The Belleville Intelligencer

Young Entrepreneur – Jason O’Neill – Competition Winner Interview

November 05, 2008 By: Jenny Category: News, business ideas 1 Comment →

Jason and Pencil Bugs

Jason O

On Monday, I announced the winners of the Cash-Smart Kids competition. Today, I have an update from one of the winners, Jason O’Neill, on what he has been doing since the story which won him the competition – and boy, has he been busy!

Here’s the interview …

So, Jason, how is your business going now?

A lot of new things have happened.   First, I turned 13 yesterday so I’m officially a teenager but I really don’t see what the big deal is.   As far as my business goes, a few months ago I was selected as a winner of the Kohl’s Kids Who Care Scholarship Program and won a small college scholarship.   I was interviewed by Cornell University’s eClips program for their Department of Applied Economics and Management.  That was really fun because I’m now their youngest entrepreneur to be featured among thousands of other business people.

On November 1, (just 2 days ago), I was the featured Luminary on a website called Inspire Me Today (http://www.inspiremetoday.com/profile.php?id=358).  If you sign up on their website, you can also hear the audio interview.

Throughout the summer, I’ve been giving presentations to libraries and since school started, I’ve been talking at schools about my business.  Each class I speak to, the teacher usually has some specific topics they want me to reference in relation to what they are working on.  I’ve highlighted everything from consumers and producers to economics and finance.  Most recently, I talked to a 4th grade class.  They were reading a book about a young author so the teacher asked me to talk about the book I wrote with my mom called “ZWEEEBA” about my Pencil Bugs characters.

I plan to make it a series where each Pencil Bug has a special ability and in some way helps the main characters in the book.  Here’s a little preview:  In the first book, the main character, Benny, finds a strange bug outside one day and wants to learn more about it.  He doesn’t realize it has a very unique ability until his dog runs away one day and this amazing bug uses his special power to help Benny find his dog, Smooch. We are in the process of submitting it to agents and/or publishers.

I’ve been invited to Nairobi, Kenya by a company called Nurture Smart.  They started a program to teach kids there how to become entrepreneurs and more self-sufficient.  They want me to be a guest speaker and judge at their Young Entrepreneur Search camp and competition.  It looks like it will happen sometime next summer.  I am really excited about the opportunity to help other kids but it’s amazing that I’ll get to travel to Africa!

As you know, my parents and I have been hand-making Pencil Bugs since I started my business.  We have been working with several companies in the past six months to get them mass produced so I can expand my business into retail stores.

I also recently set up a Pencil Bugs Fundraising Program so schools, classes, or community groups can raise money by selling something unique and fun.

More products are now available with the Pencil Bugs characters and logo at my online store www.cafepress.com/pencilbugs.  There’s something for everyone from baby bibs and t-shirts to clocks, mugs, mouse pads, and even dog dishes and puppy shirts.

I was interviewed by a well-known author recently to be included in his book.  I’m sorry I can’t give more details just yet but it’s really exciting that now I’ll be in two books.

I’m hoping we can find a publisher for my Pencil Bugs series and then I’ll be a “well-known” author myself. :)

This year, I started a new program with Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.  I used some of my earnings to buy toys and activities and put together gift bags for children who are hospitalized.  It’s a good feeling to know I might make a kid not be quite so bored while they’re in the hospital.

What are your plans for the next few months?

  • Continue with the manufacturing search and hopefully find the right company to manufacture my Pencil Bugs.
  • Keep submitting my manuscript to publishers.  I know one will be interested.
  • Work on writing the next book in the series.
  • Speak at more schools and organizations.
  • Work on some of my other projects like my Pencil Bugs board game and video game.  I would love to talk with anyone who is a game designer.  I have the whole game concept drawn out but really can’t try it unless it’s in a program.
  • I’m going to start my own blog very soon.

What advice do you have for other kids who are thinking of starting a  business?

  • Get an adult’s help because it’s really hard to do everything yourself, especially when as a kid, we still need to go to school as our first job.  Plus, a kid can’t do the legal things.
  • If you have an idea, at least give it a try.  You just never know if it will be the next big thing.  I was recently quoted in an interview saying, “You can’t get anywhere by sitting on your idea.”
  • Don’t give up.  Understand it’s not always going to be fun and easy but if you keep trying, you’ll be amazed at what might happen.
  • Being an entrepreneur isn’t always about the money.  Sometimes the best opportunities and experiences have nothing to do with sales.
  • If you are making money, remember to give back to the community.   Pick a charity that you know can directly help other people in some way.  There are a lot to choose from.

And The Winners Are ….

November 03, 2008 By: Jenny Category: Business Concepts, News, Uncategorized, Young Entrepreneurs, business ideas 4 Comments →

At last! We have the winners of the Cash-Smart Kids YouTube Video Competition.

In true democratic style, we have one girl and one boy, one video and one HubPages entry, one online and one offline business, and lots of praise for the quality of all the entrants.

So, without further ado, please step forward and take a bow – Rhiannon Leetham and Jason O’Neill!

Here is Rhiannon’s winning entry:

Rhiannon Leetham is a Cash-Smart Kid!

And here is Jason’s winning entry:

Jason O\'Neill is a Cash-Smart Kid!

Young Entrepreneur – Jason O’Neill. Click here to read the full entry.

And here’s what judge, Peter Economy had to say (after complaining that he was only allowed to pick TWO winners).

If I am to select only two of the entrants, my choices are Rhiannon
(LOVE her video and idea) and Jason (he’s doing GREAT, is getting good
visibility, and likely has some excellent insights for our readers).

Congratulations to both winners, and to all the entrants – well done!