Hannah Reyes used her initials to create the name of her business, HER Designs four years ago when she was eight. She sells a variety of products, including hairclips, mirrors, popsockets, and mini-personal alarms, but all have a signature rosette that she hand-makes out of fabric. Hannah is a finalist in the 2019 Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition. Learn more about Hannah 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: Hi, My name is Hannah Reyes and I am the owner of HER Designs, I am 12 years old. I have been in business for 4 years. I started HER Designs when I was 8 years old. Q: Do you have a website? If so, let us know what it is. A: My website is www.herdesigns.net . You can also follow me in Facebook and Instagram under HER Design Store. Q: What motivated or inspired you to start a business? A: Initially, I was inspired to make products for my own use. For example, I started making the rosette clips so I can use them for my hair. Then people start noticing them and wanted to buy them. The same thing happened for most of my other products. Another example is for my latest product, the mini-personal alarm. I was inspired to have a gadget for girls safety in time for my service trip to Peru. That’s when my mini personal alarm product was born. Q: Please share an overview about your business. A: My initial is HER which stands for Hannah Elizabeth Reyes. This is the inspiration for my business name. HER Designs sells hair clips and other accessories. In all of my products, I have maintained the rosette as a signature design. I have now established sub-brands for HER Designs such as HER Safety for my mini personal alarms and HER School Spirit for custom made hair accessories to match school uniforms. My latest product is my mini personal alarm that you can attach to your bag or belt. It sounds loud when pulled and it works to catch attention whenever you feel unsafe. Q: Tell us about some of the challenges you face being a young business owner. A: The hardest part in running a business as a young entrepreneur is having the access to selling products. When I started looking at retail opportunities and people hear that I am only 12, the first reaction is to turn me down. I have learned that these types of experiences shouldn’t discourage me and other young business owners but rather gives me more inspiration to stand up, do better and try again. It gives me a voice to say that age does not matter in making quality products. Q: Why should other youth start a business? A: You learn so many life skills in starting a business. You learn to be creative and try new things. You learn how to deal with successes and failures which will be valuable later in life. Q: What’s the best part about having your own business? A: The best part for me is making my products – being creative with it, figuring out how to innovate and trying something new. I love learning how to make good quality products and meeting a lot of people. All these while pursuing something that I love to do. Q: So, you’re one of the finalists for the Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition–congratulations! What motivated you to apply for the competition, and what do you hope to get from this experience? A: I am really excited to be one of the finalists this year. This is my second year to join the competition. I was a finalist last year as well. My business improved a lot since last year’s competition and I got motivated to join again to further improve my business exposure. Q: Please share about your involvement with Young Americans. A: I am really thankful for what Young Americans does for youth. They gave me the opportunity to sell my products when I started. Young Americans is inspiring kids to try something new and learn along the way. I have been selling in their Marketplaces for 4 years now. Also, they are giving me the opportunity to share my story and provide guidance to kids who are thinking of starting a business.

Monthly Entrepreneur: Hannah Reyes, HER Designs

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Hannah Reyes used her initials to create the name of her business, HER Designs four years ago when she was eight.  She sells a variety of products, including hairclips, mirrors, popsockets, and mini-personal alarms, but all have a signature rosette that she hand-makes out of fabric.  Hannah is a finalist in the 2019 Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition. Learn …

Jack Fleming is the 18-year-old owner of a lawn care business called Yard Boyz. Due to his dedication and vision, the business has steadily grown over the last five years, and in 2018 Jack made $25,000 in profit! Jack’s goals for this summer include staying on top of his administrative work and expanding his business. He is a finalist in the 2019 Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition. Watch Jack pitch his business on Colorado & Company, and learn more about him and his business below. Question: Tell me a little bit about you – name, age, how long you’ve been an entrepreneur? Answer: My name is Jack Fleming and I am a recent high school graduate. I started Yard Boyz 5 years ago. Q: What motivated or inspired you to start a business? A: I was motivated to start Yard Boyz because I wanted to have money of my own. I enjoyed cutting lawns, and I thought it was a simple way to make a little extra money. Q: Please share an overview of your business. A: Yard Boyz is a general landscaping service that specializes in weekly lawn mowing. We also do small- to medium-sized landscaping projects in the Centennial area. Q: Do you have a website or place for people to contact you/buy products?If so, what is it? A: I currently do not have a website. Q: Tell us about some of the challenges you face being a young business owner. A: One of the top challenges about running my business is making sure that I keep all the little details straight with regard to scheduling, payroll, employee scheduling, billing, and equipment. Q: What’s the best part about having your own business? A: My favorite part about having my own business is learning what it truly takes to be an adult and have a job. Some of my friend’s experiences cannot compare to the things I have had to do and the responsibilities I have had to manage. Q: Would you encourage other young people to start a business? Why or why not? A: Of course. I personally believe that almost all students in high school should have businesses if they want one. It teaches them so many valuable skills. Q: What is your involvement with Young Americans Center for Financial Education? A: I applied to their YourthBiz business competition and have been named a finalist for the past two years. Also, when I was younger, I participated in AmeriTowne as an Accountant at the Utility Center. Q: I hear that congratulations are in order—you’re a finalist in this year’s Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition! Tell us about this award and how it could help your business improve. A: This award seeks to help small businesses improve from ages 6-21. I am grateful to be named a finalist, and I plan to use the money awarded to help replace some worn out equipment that I have been using.

Monthly Entrepreneur: Jack Fleming, owner of Yard Boyz

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Jack Fleming is the 18-year-old owner of a lawn care business called Yard Boyz.  Due to his dedication and vision, the business has steadily grown over the last five years, and in 2018 Jack made $25,000 in profit! Jack’s goals for this summer include staying on top of his administrative work and expanding his business. He is a finalist in the 2019 Spotlight …

Yaunie Williams is the owner of YAUNIE’S Scrub Sensation, which she created four years ago when she was just eight years old. Yaunie hand makes all her sugar scrubs, bath scrubs, and gift sets, which make perfect birthday and hostess gifts. For Yaunie, owning her own business is a way to spread joy to her customers and her community! Learn more about Yaunie 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 Yaunie Williams and I am 12 years old. I have been an entrepreneur for 4 years. Q: What motivated or inspired you to start a business? A: My dad was my inspiration for the start of my own business and my mother was my motivation. They both helped me get started. Q: Please share an overview of your business. A: I sell sugar scrubs, bath scrubs, and gift sets. Q: Do you have a website or place for people to contact you/buy products? If so, what is it? A: I don’t have a website, but you can place orders through my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/maja.leigh.9 . Q: Tell us about some of the challenges you face being a young business owner. A: Some of the challenges that I face is having the right measurements of everything and creating a product that everyone will love. Q: What’s the best part about having your own business? A: The best part about having my own business is to see people happy with my products and to see people come back to buy my product. I also like spreading joy!!! Q: What is your involvement with Young Americans Bank and YouthBiz? A: I currently have an account at Young Americans Bank and I try to participate in most of the classes that YouthBiz has to offer. Q: Do you think kids should have their own bank account? Why or why not? A: I think that kids should have their own bank account so that they are able to save and have money as adults. I think saving is very important. Q: Has Young Americans Bank helped you learn about money? How? What did you learn? A: Yes, Young Americans Bank has helped me learn about money through the Money Matters classes that they offer. I have learned how to make money, save money and invest back into my business.

Entrepreneur of the Month: YAUNIE’S Scrub Sensation

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Yaunie Williams is the owner of YAUNIE’S Scrub Sensation, which she created four years ago when she was just eight years old. Yaunie hand makes all her sugar scrubs, bath scrubs, and gift sets, which make perfect birthday and hostess gifts. For Yaunie, owning her own business is a way to spread joy to her customers and her community! Learn more about …

KONE ICE CREAM STARTER Making homemade ice cream is SIMPLE and FUN! Don't have an ice cream maker? No worries.

Youth “Biz” of the Month: KONE Ice Cream

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14-year-old Ezra Ekuban just started a new business that already has a big following!  KONE is a premium ice cream starter made with the finest organic and all-natural ingredients.  You can find his products online or at the Parkers Farmers Market on Sunday’s from 8am-1pm.  He has applied to the Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition in hopes of making …

Evan Hoing on set with Denise Plante

Colorado and Company: Evan Hoing Woodworking

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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 …

Have you ever heard of amigurumi? These adorable, crocheted creatures are a big hit on Etsy, and 15-year-old Josephine “Joey” Stockton is an amigurumi expert. She’s owned her own business, Nerdy Crochet, for seven months now, and her signature items relate to science, technology, engineering and math—think multi-colored crocheted test tubes or a blood cell biology kit! Joey is hoping to gain experience that will make her business even better by applying to the Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition this spring.

Colorado & Company: Nerdy Crochet

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Have you ever heard of amigurumi?  These adorable, crocheted creatures are a big hit on Etsy, and 15-year-old Josephine “Joey” Stockton is an amigurumi expert.  She’s owned her own business, Nerdy Crochet, for seven months now, and her signature items relate to science, technology, engineering and math—think multi-colored crocheted test tubes or a blood cell biology kit!  Joey is hoping …

Entrepreneur and inventor Gabe Nagel has been tinkering with different products throughout his four years in business, and he’s finally landed on success. His top product offerings include moisturizing massage candles and super bars—sunscreen, moisturizer, insect repellent and deodorant all in one. His success over the past year has encouraged Gabe to give back, and he plans to donate a portion of his business sales this spring to support education for Native American students.

Colorado & Company: Gabe’s Bazaar

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Entrepreneur and inventor Gabe Nagel has been tinkering with different products throughout his four years in business, and he’s finally landed on success.  His top product offerings include moisturizing massage candles and super bars—sunscreen, moisturizer, insect repellent and deodorant all in one.  His success over the past year has encouraged Gabe to give back, and he plans to donate a …

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!

Colorado and Company: Leila’s Essential Care

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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 …

Denise and Madeleine at Colorado and Company

Colorado & Company: Comical Wallets

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Madeleine Whitney makes the kind of items that you’ll never find in a store!  Her business, Comical Wallets, sells unique wallets that she hand-crafts out of comic books and fabric.  Kids and adults alike love them!  At just 13 years old, Madeleine has built an impressive business that’s been around for the last four years.  You’ll find her products online …

Denise with Matthew, Sophia, and Mila Art Gami

Colorado and Company: ArtiGami

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Matthew Layden, Sophia Layden, and Mila Baird-Yeung are the proud creators and owners of ArtiGami!  This is a business these young entreprneurs first created in summer camp at Young Americans Center for Financial Education two years ago.  They sell unique paper products including ornaments, picture frames, coasters, Christmas ornaments, and much more.  You can find ArtiGami products at the YouthBiz …