10-year-old Ian House is the youngest member of the current cohort at the Center for Creative Enterprise. He has garnered a wealth of practical small business and marketing expertise – and made a handsome profit – since joining CES and formally launching his small business enterprise just a few months ago.
Ian House has only been part of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES) for a few months, but this 10-year-old, who loves video games, hiking and Harry Potter, also confidently describes himself as an entrepreneur.
He learned about the Center from a few other kids who participate, as is often the case, according to CES founder and CEO, Bonita Tompkins. Since launching his fledgling business, “Ian’s 3D Creations and Curations,” Ian has produced 3D printed toys, gifts and accessories, and a few special holiday items. Some of his most popular offerings include decorative but functional tire valve caps reimagined as Minecraft chickens, skulls, or Storm Trooper helmets; and a miniature folding yellow sandwich board sign with black lettering proclaiming “WARNING – cat barf!”
At home, Ian’s dad, James, a software engineer, had been exploring electronics and robotics with Ian’s older brother. When James bought a 3D printer a while ago, his younger son also began to take an interest, mostly in making toy trucks and models for himself. Eventually, Ian advanced to creating toolboxes, racks, cages, winches and utility trailers for his trucks. Friends and family members started noticing, and Ian even made a few sales.
But it wasn’t until Ian became involved with CES that he firmly established a business. There, he mastered using Canva software to fine tune his logo, brainstormed with Tompkins to devise a merchandising strategy that includes a display with his bio and created and produced colorful labelling, packaging and hang tags for his products, which sell for $2 to $14. Ian has also learned how to price his goods, taking into account the cost of materials, payments to his dad for wear and tear on the equipment at home and a 10% sales commission to CES. At the shop, he and his peers learn real-time lessons in inventory control and restocking. They also contribute on a regular weekly basis to staffing the store, running the cash register, greeting visitors and providing customer service.
Though Ian is fortunate to have access to a 3D printer at home, he’s recently become interested in learning more about the other equipment and technology available for all participants to use at the Center’s maker space, thinking about how he might branch out and expand his line of offerings in the future.
Indeed, the sky’s the limit and the future is bright for young entrepreneurs at the Center. (Click here to read our article about the center itself)
Visit the storefront at 156 Main Street, Farmington, or head to cesmaineshop.myshopify.com to browse what’s for sale at CES.
