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12-year-old Evan Hoing has only been in business a few months, but you’d never know it! His wooden pens, toys, and bowls are amazing, and Governor Polis even signed a bill into law using one of Evan’s pens! This young entrepreneur sold his products, which make excellent gifts, at the YouthBiz Spring Marketplace. Learn more about Evan and his business below and watch his segment on Colorado & Company!
Question: Tell me a little bit about yourself – name, age, how long you’ve been an entrepreneur?
Answer: My name is Evan Hoing. I attend Dunstan Middle School in Lakewood, I’m 12 years old and I’ve been a woodworking entrepreneur for about ten months.
Q: Do you have a website? Or any social media? If so, let us know what it is.
A: I do not have a website yet but I do have an Instagram page. It is @lathemasterevan. I also have a YouTube channel (Evan Hoing.) I have 34 subscribers, but I would love more!
Q: What motivated or inspired you to start a business?
A: YouTube. I received a lathe for Christmas in 2017. Then I taught myself how to use it by watching YouTube videos by wood turners like Carl Jacobsen, Peter Brown and Nick Zammetti and others.
Q: Please share an overview about your business.
A: I make things like pens, tops, yo-yos, vases, bowls, wine stoppers and wine glasses out of wood on my lathe. My favorite wood to use is African padauk.
Q: Tell us about some of the challenges you face being a young business owner.
A: One of the challenges I face is lack of money. You only have a craft fair or marketplace maybe every three months if you are lucky. Once you spend the money you make on tools and materials, you have only a little bit of money until the next craft fair.
Q: What’s the best part about having your own business?
A: Obviously, the money part is great. However, the best part is that I am a kid and I like to see people’s reactions when they see I am the one who created the wood piece they are admiring.
Q: Why should other youth start a business?
A: It gives you essential skills that you can use later in life like being comfortable talking to people and marketing. Also, it gives you a feeling for what it is like to be an entrepreneur. Then you will know if you want to take the risk of starting your own business when you are an adult.
Q: Please share about your involvement with Young Americans Center/YouthBiz?
A: This is my second time at the YouthBiz marketplace. The first time was in December, so I’m pretty new. At the December Marketplace, I met Senator Angela Williams. Meeting Senator Williams gave me the opportunity to be a part of getting the Bill legalizing minors’ business passed. Governor Polis even used a pen I made to sign the Bill!
Q: Tell our audience why someone should come by the YouthBiz Marketplace to purchase products from you.
A: It supports my business and the more support I get, the more quality products I can make for my customers. It’s really fun to see what other young business owners have for sale. Come swing by the Marketplace! I make some pretty awesome stuff.
Editors Note: This is bill “Legalizing Minors’ Businesses,” also known as the Lemonade Bill, supported by Young Americans Center for Financial Education.
