Meet Sawyer Hazel, a creative and enterprising 9-year-old who turned a Christmas gift of beads into a thriving bracelet business in Georgia. She has been featured in Tuttle Times Magazine, and some of her bracelets have even made it to a concert in Paris! Read what Sawyer had to say about running her own small business below.
CEM: Tell us about your business. How did you first get the idea?
I had a lot of beads from a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and my mom gave me the idea of making bracelets and trying to sell them at our neighborhood farmer’s market. This was also around the time when Taylor Swift started her Eras tour and her fans began exchanging friendship bracelets. I have sent out hundreds of bracelets for her fans and my bracelets have even been to her Paris concert this year!
CEM: What supplies and resources did you need to get going? How did you get ahold of them?
I needed the elastic cording and LOTS of beads. I had a bunch of beads to start, but my parents also helped me get going the first few times I needed to purchase supplies. After I worked at a couple of events though, I’ve been able to completely fund my business. I pay any fees to participate in markets, I purchase all supplies I need to make jewelry, and I even bought a banner and business cards! My dad helped me create the logo for my business because he loves to do that kind of stuff. Speaking of my dad, he’s helped me so much managing my profits. I do keep some funds available for supplies for my business and a little for spending money on fun things, but I was bringing in so much that he helped me invest in Bitcoin! I’m hoping that really pays off in my future!
CEM: What are some challenges you’ve faced in business, and how did you overcome them?
When I participate in markets that also have adult vendors sometimes people think my items are only for kids, but that’s really not the case. I make my jewelry with mostly adults in mind. I do have a separate line that I offer that is specifically made for kids (smaller sizes, cheaper beads, and kid-friendly price points). Another challenge can be that there are usually a lot of other jewelry businesses at markets I’m at. I try to stand out with my sales pitch and really love talking with my customers. It feels great when a potential customer says something like “I’m going to look around and come back” and then they actually come back because they realized how friendly I was and that I make high quality pieces. I talked about differentiation in bracelet businesses in Issue #31 of the Tuttle Times magazine! There is plenty of room in a market for similar businesses, you just have to find the best way to stand out!
CEM: Do you have any advice for other aspiring kid entrepreneurs?
There is no point in having a business that you dread working on, so find something you enjoy and that you’re passionate about before you end up working on something that you hate. I really like making bracelets and other jewelry pieces. I do go through spurts of time where I’ll want to do nothing else but create new pieces, but I also have enough inventory that if I’m not in the mood to make things, I don’t have to. Giving myself a break every now and then helps me continue to love what I make!
Also, know your worth! Just because you’re a kid owned business doesn’t mean that your items don’t have value. Think about the time it takes you to make something. Your price points need to reflect not only covering supply costs but also your time. Time = Money
CEM: How can potential customers get in touch with you?
My email is thebeadborough@gmail.com and I also have an Instagram account that my mom helps me manage @thebeadborough. I’m happy to take custom orders and ship them to anywhere in the US!
Thanks so much for sharing your passion of bracelet making with people all over the country, Sawyer! We can’t wait to hear about where your bracelets end up next!
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