By Bonnie Drew
Business is booming for Emily Burdick, owner of Emilina's Original Jewelry Designs in Houston, Texas. This young teenager is already an experienced business person who's learned to recognize current trends and cash in on her customer's changing demands.
"Last year, I sold angel pins and earrings as fast as I could make them," she explains. "But now the angel fad seems about over and everyone is crazy about Y necklaces."
As a result, Emily has sold most of her leftover angel jewelry to a religious bookstore. And she has been making Y necklaces every spare minute she finds--even while watching TV.
Three years ago, Emily started her business with only one product--simple beaded eyeglass chains her aunt taught her to make. When Emily discovered she could invest $4 in materials, make a chain in 20 minutes and sell it for $10 to $15, she knew she had found a profitable enterprise.
She immediately began to create additional products, attend craft fairs and pass out business cards. Last year, Emily made $700 in the months of November and December alone.
Most of her customers are friends at school, relatives and neighbors. During the holidays, she gets so many requests to see jewelry that her parents have allowed her to set up a permanent display in the family living room.
Still, Emily thinks the most fun about the jewelry business is starting a new fad. When Emily has a "gut instinct" about a new design, she makes a sample and wears the piece to school. Someone almost always says, "Oh, make me one of those!" Before long, all her friends are ordering and Emilina's Original Jewelry Designs just keeps on growing.
Bonnie Drew is the author of FAST CASH FOR KIDS (2nd edition), published by Career Press (1-800-227-3371). She is also the creator of the KIDS BUSINESS software for young entrepreneurs, available from Homeland Publications (713-332-9764).
Drew is also Editor of Young Entrepreneur magazine, published by Kid's Way, Inc., a company that helps youth prepare for business and the workplace of the 21st century. For more information, write to Kid's Way at 5589 Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341 or call toll free 1-888-KidsWay (1-888-543-7929).
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