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Leila Hollis is just 12, but she’s already started three businesses! Her latest enterprise is “Leila’s Essential Care” which sells sugar scrubs and foot balms. This business combines Leila’s love of creating things and her desire to earn extra spending money. Plus, Leila won top honors at YouthBiz Camp at Young Americans Center for Financial Education last summer!
Watch Leila’s segment on Colorado & Company and learn more about this inspiring business owner below.
Question: Tell me a little bit about you – name, age, how long you’ve been an entrepreneur?
Answer: My name is Leila Hollis and I just turned 12. I have been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember because I started with lemonade stands when I was little. I would dance and wave my hands as the cars went by so they always came back to buy lemonade from me. From there, I opened “L Café” and would create menus and prepare food to serve to my family and friends. But my most recent enterpriseis “Leila’s Essential Care” where I create homemade spa-type, self-care products out of all-natural ingredients and essential oils.
Q: Do you have a website?
A: Yes! My website is www.LeilaEssentialCare.com
Q: What motivated or inspired you to start a business?
A: I always wanted to have extra spending money, but I didn’t want to wait for an allowance. I wanted to take matters into my own hands. I also realized that I love creating things. And I thought it would be cool to create things that could make me the extra cash I was looking for. And my latest project has really taken off and is super popular.
Q: Please share an overview about your business.
A: My main products are sugar scrubs and foot balms but I also dabble in additional items like relief towelettes and stress toys. For the foot balm you simply put it on your feet and it will help remove callouses, make your feet smoother, help with cracked skin, and help with sore feet. I use peppermint essential oils because peppermint has been proven to be the most refreshing for the feet. In all of my products I use all-natural ingredients and Essential oils. To use the sugar scrubs, you simply apply it onto your hands and rub it around. The sugar gets rid of all the dead skin and the Essential oils leave your hands soft and moisturized.
Q: What makes your business unique?
A: My business is unique because I use all-natural ingredients and because I use Essential oils. I have many different Essential oils that help with different things. For example, there is one to help you breathe, one for relaxation, and one that heals the skin. (Those are just a few)
Q: Tell us about some of the challenges you face being a young business owner.
Some challenges that I face being a young business owner is that many people don’t believe that you have your own business because you are so young. This can be hard to face because you can lose customers if they don’t take you seriously.
Q: What’s the best part about having your own business?
A: The best part about owning your own business is the power of making choices and pursuing ideas.
Q: Why should other youth start a business?
A: I think that other youth should start a business because the experience of learning about the world of business and being able to have a certain amount of responsibility is important.
Q: Is this a business that you will keep working on or do you have other businesses in the works?
A: This is a business that I will keep working on, but if at any time a better idea comes into play, I will not hold back and I will try to conquer it.
Q: What is your involvement with Young Americans Center?
A: I started out by opening a savings account when I was really little. My parents would take me to learn about making deposits and saving money. Then I went to some Saturday classes. Then I experienced AmeriTowne through my school and really loved it. Because I loved it so much, I wanted to go to summer camp there. I really love all of their camps and programs because I learn a lot, and I also have a blast. My favorite camp so far was Youthbiz camp because I had been running all of these little businesses and the camp taught me how to focus in and further develop them.
Q: What was your experience in summer camp? What are some things that you learned?
A: My last summer camp was really cool because that was when I learned how to be my own boss and I got to present my idea in front of a real “shark tank” of judges. Also, my business won the competition at one of the camps.
