For Brandon Martinez (14 years old) and his brother Sebastian (12 years old), age is simply a number when it comes to business. The two brothers started their sock company in 2014 as they sought to start a non-profit to live out their passion: designing and selling socks while supporting national and local charities. Hence, the mantra of these boy’s non-profit: “kids helping kids.” The boys are quite intentional about shaping their business so that communities are impacted by their model of charity. With each pair of socks that one buys, one sock is donated to a charity. The business partners with a list of nine non-profits.
One of the parts I love most about this business is the design of the socks. They consist of youthful patterns which are certainly attractive to kids. Furthermore, some of the socks have designs of certain charities printed on them which create awareness of the charity when worn and 30% of the sock profit is donated to that charity. The picture below illustrates and example of these charitable socks.
“You’re never too old or too young to start a business… you can be 7 or 70.”
– Sebastian Martinez
“If we’re not learning to give back then what are we really doing for the world.”
– Brandon Martinez
As the quote of Brandon Martinez suggests, the two business kids are all about improving the world. Christian or not, these boys are serving others through ingenuity. In addition, they did not let their youthful status stop them from pursuing their dreams. What an entrepreneurial spirit the two possess! The two boys have contributed over $300,000 in charitable contributions; located on their website, they claim the main focus of the business to be donating socks to kids in foster care, the homeless, and those affected by natural disasters.
The business does a great job at marketing their product well too; they know the desires of their audience. For example, the business acknowledges that more than nine in ten millennials would purchase a product associated with a cause. I admire these kids as they obviously discerned a common passion and implemented a business that first and foremost focuses on others.
I really enjoyed reading about Sebastian and Brandon. I think it’s really interesting to see how they took their passion to not only start a business, but to help others as well. And, I like that they give back in two ways: through their product itself and through donations. These kids are really demonstrating what it’s like to be an entrepreneur in the 21st Century.
I really like your post! Great example of young entrepreneurs! They did a great job of making a fun product that promotes donations. Overall, great post!
Today’s consumers, especially those of a younger demographic, like their purchases to have a positive impact on others. There has been a rise in charity-based business structures in the past few years. These kids are showing a great entrepreneurial spirit by hopping on this trend in a unique way.