Meet Sebastian and Brandon Martinez:
Sebastian (right), at age 5 became the CEO of his own company, “Are You Kidding?”. His older brother Brandon supports his business as Director of Sales – ensuring that all sales run smoothly and that each customer receives great customer service. You’d think I’m kidding – but I’m not. Sebastian, even at the age of 5, had a passion; and with the help of his mother was able to turn that passion into an entrepreneurial reality.
Are You Kidding? is a company that sells fun, colorful socks to children who share the same love of socks that Sebastian does. Mrs. Martinez, the President of this company, encouraged Sebastian to share this love with others about two years ago. Since then the company has taken off. On January 23, 2015 both Sebastian and Brandon were featured on Good Morning America’s Shark Tank Your Life: Kid-Preneurs Edition.
The business was officially launched in May of 2014. In the last year, the business has made about $15,000. Are You Kidding? is not only a for-profit organization, but the Martinez brothers also donate funds to various charities as well. For example, in October, this company sold socks specifically designed to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. In addition, Are You Kidding? is also working with “Be A Hero and Save Lives”, a campaign promoting safe driving through encouraging people not to text and drive.
These children are learning the ins and outs of running a business at a very young age. It is exciting to think about where Sebastian and Brandon might take their sock business as they become older and learn more about the market and have new ideas. If anything, these boys should teach us that there is no age limit to entrepreneurship. Sometimes the most creative people are the youngest people, and with a little encouragement and the right resources it is possible to turn a passion into an entrepreneurial reality.
It’s so great to see how even at a young age, this kid is paring his business with charitable causes and seeking to make a difference. People love a product with a cause behind it so that they can enjoy the benefits of it as well as feel like they are making a difference. This just goes to show that even something as simple as socks can be gain a profit and have a positive impact on society.
This post is an excellent reminder of the benefits of starting young when it comes to entrepreneurship. Both Sebastian and Brandon will learn life lessons about the benefits of charity, trial and error and the pursuit of passion. It so very important to translate what we are interested in, like socks, into what we want to do. When we combine entrepreneurship with passion and pleasure, it is hard to not have a successful idea.
I loved reading this post. I think even for adults, the prospect of putting your ideas out there and taking risks is daunting. However, these two little boys help to show us that even small ideas can make a difference and be successful. It’s also wonderful to see that even at a young age, these boys want to give to charities and support others. That kind of philanthropy makes the world a better place.