Maddie Bradshaw was worth her first million at only 13 years old. At 16, she was selling over 60,000 of her unique necklaces a month and making over $1.6 million annually.
Her idea for these unique, interchangeable, bottle cap necklaces started out as simple school locker decorations. At 10 years old her uncle had given her 50 old bottle caps. She decorated them, attached magnets to them, and when her friends saw them they all wanted some. This inspired Maddie to create different designs with bottle caps.
She created Snap Caps. Snap Caps are necklaces with metal pendants on them to attract and magnetize bottle caps. Every bottle cap has some kind of symbol, letter, or design so that a person can swap different caps out depending on the style they want to wear for the day.
Maddie found immediate success with her necklaces. In nearly every store she launched them in they all sold out. As her business continued to grow and she made her first million at 13, she attracted the attention of the national media and ended up being interviewed on ABC and was able to pitch her project on Shark Tank. The Sharks loved her idea so much that THREE of them invested into her company!
Currently 19 years old, Maddie continues to grow and expand her business. She has said, “The great thing about our company is that it’s growing with me. As my tastes change, so will the products.” Maddie has also published a book called You Can Start a Business, Too. Her advise to other young entrepreneurs like her is to, “Follow your passion. If you come up with an idea and you love it, chances are other people will, too.”
I love this idea. It’s so cool how this product came from a simple family tradition. I like how there are many different styles. There will be a design that everyone will like. This is very unique and shows that you’re never too young to come up with good ideas.
I think it is amazing that Maddie started her business at 10 and continues to run it today. Something that seemed like just something fun to decorate became a million dollar idea. I think the idea is unique and she understood how to be an entrepreneur even though she was pretty young.
Maddie’s mentality is inspirational!…and not to mention encouraging. I like the snap caps idea too! When I was in my early teens, I would love customizing necklaces to make them match my personality and style.She has targeted an audience that includes herself, which makes her product a personal venture. It really brings home the point to do what you love and others will probably follow.
This is inspirational! I was not expecting to read that she would have made it on to Shark Tank, let alone get huge investments from multiple sharks. Just goes to show that being an entrepreneur can be unpredictable and even simple ideas can take flight!