At about eight or nine years old I quickly became aware of the excessive time on my hands. Living in the Camelot Apartments brought about new excitements, as kids we would jump into the fall leaves, make snowmen bigger than us, create forts in the woods and play in the rain; yet there was still so much time on our hands. So my creative young fluids got to work and came up with an idea.
I dragged my father to the store and bought small cups, chocolate pudding mix and milk. As quickly as I thought of the idea I was selling the chocolate pudding in my neighborhood. Most kids sold lemonade but I wanted to be different. Lemonade 1. took too much time to squeeze and 2. could not be sold year round. Since I was a master at making chocolate pudding, it was the obvious choice. First I got all my friends to buy chocolate pudding for 50 cents each, then I would go door to door and sell the remaining.
My new business did not last too long but it taught me a valuable lesson, Chocolate pudding kicks Lemonade's butt any day any where.
I grew out of my adolescence and into my early teens. I heard stories from my brother on how he would sell candy from his locker. Well I took it upon myself to continue the legacy. It was easy, I bought the locker next to me from a student, bought organizing shelves and set up all my candy in locker. Many complained about some of my prices but they could not argue against the convenient location. I sold the good stuff; snickers, skittles, starburst, dorritos, cheetos, all the -itos family, coke products, gum.....etc. My locker business was so good even the teachers would occasionally purchase from me!
It was all gravy till one day my friends gave me a list of items they were going to sell out of their locker. They told me they did not want to compete with me so they would sell food that I did not have. We came to an agreement and within the next week they were selling food from their locker. I did not give it too much thought at first, but when I saw more people crowd around their locker instead of mine, I realized I may have committed a mistake. He sold honey buns, hostess, and generic brand drinks and snacks at a cheaper price. I had some loyal customers but they were definitely making more money than me.
I had to step my game up; so my creative fluids began to work again and I thought up an idea that was very risky. Something that could launch me or just ruin everything....Ice Cream! Ice cream was what I needed. I spent a week brainstorming the perfect way to sell ice cream and advertise the new product to the students. Once again I went after the good stuff, snicker bar ice cream, flinstone push up, popsicles, vanilla, strawberry and chocolate sundaes with the wooden spoon and so much more. Long story short I took back what I started. I successfully sold ice cream from 8am-3pm everyday. And I am proud to say after I graduated the school opened up their first official snack store.
(It is amazing the things we can do as individuals when we put our minds to it)
As I have always found ways to make a buck or two. I am ready to step into a new chapter. Recently I have been itching to start a new business but have not found the right idea or resource to do so. At this time my creative fluids are running again and I am brainstorming all types of ideas but nothing is sticking. My goal six months from now is to have a solid idea and a year from now to begin the process of entrepreneurship. Of course your input is always valued and considered and I am excited to share this with you!
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