On Friday, The Today Show shared the amazing story of 16-year-old Zandra, who started her own skincare line when she was 9 years old. Like many young girls, Zandra loved lip balm. After her dad refused to buy her more, she started researching how to make her own. Once her mom saw her passion for lip balm, she bought Zandra a lip balm kit from Bramble Berry. Zandra’s parents continued to foster her love for making bath and beauty products, and soon her passion grew into a business. Zandra’s line has grown from lip balm to a wide variety of products, including soap, sugar scrubs, lotion and more. Click here to shop Zandra Beauty.
I had the opportunity to meet Zandra and her mom this year at the Indie Business Cruise. I was so impressed with her; she gave an amazing talk and was an inspiration for the entire group. As if starting her own company at 9 wasn’t awesome enough, Zandra gave a TED Talk when she was 14. Watch her talk below. Zandra shares the story of her business and how she uses it to encourage other young women in business and support girl’s education. Basically, Zandra is one of the coolest 16 year olds ever. =) Also, she just completely rocked the Etsy Open Call and **won.** Look for her products in Paper Source. As Paper Source hashtagged it on Instagram, #GoldenPO. Yes, a golden purchase order for a seriously talented individual.
Stories like this are exactly why I started Bramble Berry at 20 years old, and what inspires me to keep pushing everyday. This story is also inspiring to me as a mother of two young children, who I hope will have an entrepreneurial spirit when they are older. If the amount of stuff Jamisen ‘borrows’ and then ‘sells’ back to me are any indication, one of the kiddos is headed in that direction.
My friend, Bob Pritchett, says that all entrepreneurs should start a business before the age of 20 because the stakes are so much lower. There’s something to be said for that. When I look back at the early years, I can’t imagine trying to do all that with the craziness in my life now with juggling kids and full-time adulting. That’s why I find stories like Zandra’s so exciting and inspiring. Hearing about Zandra got me thinking about my early days in business, and what I have learned since starting a company at 20 years old. Read on to learn what I would gently and lovingly tell my temperamental, energetic, enthusiastic, and naive 20 year old entrepreneurial self.