Sarah: Please tell me how you got started and where CEO Kids and parents can find out more info about you.
Danette: I love to wear jewelry but my mom could never find sterling silver jewelry that was cute and that also fit my wrist so that inspired me to make sterling silver jewelry for other girls all around the world. Parents and kids can find out more about me on Facebook – where kids can join my fan page called Teen Wall of Fame and on my website – www.princessjewels4kids.com where they can look at my photo album and order a bracelet.
Sarah: When did you start thinking about starting your own business and becoming an entrepreneur and why did you want to start?
Danette: I started thinking about starting my own business when I was five. So my mom would give me little business tasks to do around the house until I was old enough to control a healthy business. Finally after three years of tasks I was ready to start working on my business.
Sarah: Where did you come up with your idea and what investigation did you do to help you know that this would be a great business?
Danette: My idea came from my own difficulty of finding sterling silver jewelry that fit my wrist. I knew this would be a great idea because almost every girl likes to wear jewelry, so it would be a good market to go in since there is a lot of demand but barely any service. Also if my mom had a hard time finding sterling silver jewelry that fit then I know that most likely other parents are having trouble as well.
Sarah: What do you think are the most important skills you have that help you in business?
Danette: Four skills that helped me in my business were aspiration, inspiration, flexibility, and willingness. Aspiration was helpful in my business because if you don’t have the drive and motivation to do something then most of the time it won’t get done. Inspiration helped my business because my reason for making jewelry gave me an extra boost of motivation. Flexibility was helpful to my business because you always need a plan, since you are going to have to adjust to your surroundings. Like my mom says “You should always have a plan A, B, C, D, E and maybe even more depending on the situation. Lastly, willingness was helpful in my business because if you are not willing to be flexible or network with people, it will really hold you back.
Sarah: What were the biggest obstacles, problems you had in getting started in business?
Danette: The biggest obstacle I had was just getting out there and being willing to try new things and ideas. Our human nature wants to go the way that we know, though that might not always be the best way. So, just be willing to try new ideas that people give you even though that’s not the way you were taught. Who knows the new way might be more productive.
Sarah: How old were you when you started and how old are you now? How does your age affect your business success?
Danette: When I started my business I was 9 years old and now I am 13. I think that it was difficult at first for people to build trust in my jewelry but after the first couple of sales it was a lot easier because people felt more comfortable. At first most of the people that brought my jewelry were people I knew and as I built reliability people started blowing in like the wind. I think now that I am thirteen it will be a little easier to sell my product.
Sarah: What about college? Are you planning on going?
Danette: Yes, I am definitely planning on going to college but I haven’t decided where I would like to go or what I would like to major in. Currently I would like to be a speaker, model, and a fashion designer. When I get older I want to travel around the world speaking about youth success and I also want to take my business to the next level by adding clothes, shoes, purses etc. to my collection of jewelry. I would like to have my own online boutique.
Sarah: What kind of expenses or start-up costs did you have when you started your business and where did you find the money or capital to start?
Danette: To start my business I needed a work station, storage for supplies, and tools for my crafts. Those were the major costs I needed to get started, so overall it was about $1000 and that all came from my mom. All of my start-up costs came from my mom but now a partial amount of the money I make from selling jewelry goes back into my business. My mom still provides financial support in my business.
Sarah: What have been the best surprises that you found in starting your business?
Danette: Judge Hatchett came to my city to speak twice. The first time I met Judge Hatchett I presented a bracelet that was black and white to match her judicial robe and in return she sent me a handwritten thank-you letter. The second time I saw Judge Hatchett I presented another bracelet to her and she also called me on stage and talked about my business to about 150 people. Also I got to attend the 2010 Glazer/ Kennedy Super Conference and while I was there I got to host a youth entrepreneur pizza party with my mom. I also got to design and sell a 5th grade graduation bracelet for my elementary school. Lastly I designed 3 bracelets exclusively for Girls Inc.
Sarah: Do you do EVERYTHING by yourself or do you have people on your team that work with you? If so – how did you find people to help you along the way?
Danette: Most of it like making the jewelry and designing it etc., I do by myself but I also have the help of my mom with things that involve finances. Then things like my website my mom does that as well. One day I will have more things I have to do but for now I focus on jewelry making & designing, advertising, and other jobs that don’t involve things that I am not old enough for like filing sales taxes etc.
Sarah: What ideas and approaches do you use to market your business and what do you find works best for you in getting the word out about who you are and what you are doing?
Danette: I attend cheering competitions and so there is basically a stadium full of mostly girls who would absolutely love to have a custom made bracelet with their team colors. So it is kind of a straight shot, which you won’t always have. I also advertise everywhere I go by wearing my bracelets; therefore, if they like it I can tell them that I made it and most of the time they will buy a bracelet.
Sarah: How do you balance it all? Do you find that you still have time to be a kid?
Danette: Yes, I still have time to be a kid and do things like go to the mall or the movies or hang out with my friends. Although there still are blocks of time where I do have to sit down and work on designing new bracelets, filling orders or checking supplies. But my mom is strict about my school work coming before fun or business.
Sarah: What is the best advice or tips you would like to share with young entrepreneurs?
Danette: One tip that I would like to share with the youth is that, there are going to be things you don’t want to do but in the end all your hard work will pay off, so don’t give up. I chose this tip because I have times when I really just don’t want to do something but when I do it and get it over with then I can go and do whatever I want to do. That also comes in with time management so if you want to go to the movies or the mall you can but when you get back you have to work on whatever it is that you need to work on.
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