I’m wanting to pay for my own university education, raise money for my favourite charity, and have money to travel.
Rosie, Kidpreneur
For the most part, Rosie is your typical sixth grader. She loves to read and her favourite books are Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. She also loves Starbucks, swimming, and of course, like most kids her age, she loves screentime. And like most kids, Rosie wanted her own iPad and so she asked her parents if they would buy her one. Like most parents, Rosie received the standard answer from them that many kids get when asking for such an extravagant gift which was you can have one when you can figure out how to pay for it.
Now we’re getting to the unique part of Rosie. Rosie actually accepted this challenge and found a way to do just that! And why not? After all, as the saying goes, she’s a product of her own environment. Well, not really. Rosie is her own person, but she definitely has some positive influencers around her, and many of them are in business for themselves. Included are her father, grandmother and also, her grandfather. So, why not start her own business? Why does her age have to be a barrier?
As Rosie pondered this idea she was further inspired by a friend who was busy selling her own homemade bath bombs. This gave Rosie another idea. “Why not create something myself. Something from me? So I did!” Rosie explains that Rosie Colored Glasses is the result. Today we are going to interview Rosie about her start-up company and how she went about becoming a Kidpreneur.
Q & A with Kidpreneur, ROSIE
KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS: Tell us about how you started your business.
ROSIE: I was up late one night, brainstorming ideas with my mom. That’s when we came up with the idea to make custom silhouettes and other art for people.
KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS: All of the things you could have chosen to do, what made you decide on this idea of creating silhouettes?
ROSIE: I saw them in the background of the TV show Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn, and my mom said she wanted some silhouettes of the kids’ faces in our family. My mom and I started learning how to make them and I made some of my brothers and sister. My mom’s friend came over and loved them and asked me to make some of her kids. That’s when we thought it would be a good business for me.
KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS: After you decided on what you wanted to offer your customers as a start-up business, how did you go about making this happen?
ROSIE: My dad has his own business, so he showed me how to make a business plan.
KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS: Tell me about the business plan you made with your dad. What did you learn by making this?
ROSIE: My dad made a spreadsheet and we looked at the stuff I needed to buy like my iPad, website, logo and other things like printing samples to take Instagram pics. Next, we looked at how much money I might be able to make in a year if I sold a lot of items, or how much if I only sold a few. I learned that it was a lot of responsibility because there are a lot of expensive things to pay for when you start a business. Then I borrowed money from my parents to get started.
ROSIE: My parents helped me get my business started and I’ve already had a bunch of orders! I also decided to give $1 from every pet silhouette order to the Burlington Humane Society so I’m putting that portion of my orders aside so I can present a cheque to them when I raise $50. They are my charity of choice because when I was 10, I asked for donations for the Burlington Humane Society instead of presents because I love animals. When I brought the Humane Society all the donations I collected, they let me hold one of the kittens. My brothers are allergic to cats and dogs so we can’t have one at home, so this is my way of showing love to animals.
KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS: What else are you wanting to do with your earning from your company?
ROSIE: I’m also saving up to pay for university all by myself. I want to get a good education, so I can get a job working to help the environment.
I would also love to go to Sweden one day to visit my friend. My mom’s best friend moved to Sweden and came to visit last September with one of her kids. We became really good friends and I hope to visit them soon.
KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS: We are very impressed with your goals and the way you are going about starting and operating your business. What advice would you give to other kids who are inspired by your story and wanting to start up their own business?
ROSIE: Make sure you get help from your parents. They can help you with setting up a website and lending money to get supplies and stuff like that. I like to share ideas with my parents and we decide how things can be changed and how to make them better. If you have a business idea you should give it a try. You won’t know unless you try!
KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS: And how about a word from the proud parents about Rosie’s endeavours.
PROUD PARENTS: We truly believe in the line from the musical Matilda “Even if you’re little you can do a lot!” Rosie loves the book and we took her to see the musical for her 9th birthday. Rosie has grown as a person so much over the past few years, from being an overly timid and very quiet child to a courageous girl who had a role in her school play, and putting herself out there with her own business. She is a wonderful big sister to her younger siblings, and we are so proud and lucky to be her parents!
For more information about how Rosie can create a custom, one-of-a-kind silhouette for a keepsake or gift, you can contact her here at Rosie Colored Glasses.
Be sure to watch her Youtube Video below where she shares more about how and why she started Rosie Colored Glasses.
Thank you Rosie, for sharing this inspiring story with us and we wish you much luck in your business!
