Monthly Entrepreneur: Annabel Feeny, Owner of The Wool and The Wearer

Annabel Feeny, age 11, crochets wearable, warm products for all ages through her business The Wool and The Wearer.

Annabel Feeny is the 11-year-old seamstress behind The Wool and The Wearer.  After crocheting a blanket for her cousin, she decided that she could turn her hobby into a business that creates wearable and warm products for all ages!  A week-long summer camp at Young Americans Center helped her get started, and she sold her first products at a school market last fall.  Learn more about Annabel below and watch her segment on Colorado & Company!

Question: Tell me a little bit about you – name, age, how long you’ve been an entrepreneur.

Answer: My name is Annabel Feeny, and I’m 11.  I have been crocheting for two years.  My first piece was a blanket for my cousin Luke.  Last Christmas (in 2018), I made a number of hats, baskets and bags for family members, and everyone really liked them.  I started selling my creations in September of 2019 at my school’s night market.

Q: How can people find your business? Do you have a website?

A: I do not have a website yet, but I do plan to start an Etsy shop in the next few months.  The way I sell is either at markets, at my middle school or through the Young Americans Center YouthBiz Marketplace.  If you would like to purchase a product from me, you can contact Maite Wantwadi, YouthBiz Director: mwantwadi@yacenter.org.

Q: What motivated or inspired you to start a business?

A: I really enjoy crocheting and as I made items for people, everyone said ‘you could sell these things, you know…’ So, I decided to start selling hats, scarves, baskets and blankets.

Q: Please share an overview about your business.

A: My business is currently called ‘The Wool and The Wearer.’  It focuses on creating wearable and warm products for everyone.  I also make baskets, which are great for storing hats & gloves.

Q: What makes your business unique?

A: It seems that most people who think of knitting and crocheting think of older people – and that it’s sort of a stereotype.  But the fact that I’m only 11 and I can make high quality items makes it pretty unique. My items are customizable too, which also makes it unique.

Q: Tell us about some of the challenges you face being a young business owner.

A: One of the challenges is balancing the cost of the yarn while trying to make a high-quality product with trying to make money.  I have to be careful about not buying yarn that is too expensive or overpriced.  Otherwise, I won’t make a profit.

Q: Why should other youth start a business?

A: I think people think of entrepreneurs as adults. If a child starts a business it shows other people that kids are just a capable as adults.    Also, you can start small.  I started at my school’s night market to see if what I was selling was interesting to people.  It turns out that it was, which gave me confidence to continue making things to sell.

Q: Please share your involvement with YouthBiz.

A: I sold items at a YouthBiz Holiday Marketplace in Lakewood this past December (2019).

Q: What was your experience in summer camp? What are some things that you learned?

I did a summer camp at Young Americans Center in the summer of 2019 called “Just Start It” to better understand how to set up a business.  I learned about how to properly price your items – thinking about how much time it takes me to make something and what is the cost of the yarn.  I also learned a little bit about taxes and that I have to account for taxes when I sell items.