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Archive for Business, Advertising

Connor Blakley, Founder of YouthLogic

Connor Blakley is the perfect example of a Gen Z entrepreneur – he saw a problem and solved it. His company is YouthLogic, a marketing consultancy that he founded when he was just 15.

While Gen Z might not be the largest generation right now, they still have significant influence and economic impact. They influence $44 billion in just discretionary spending. Blakley realized at a very young age that he can leverage his knowledge about the younger generation to help companies with their marketing efforts. He got the idea for the business while watching his friends scroll through Twitter, noticing how quickly they skipped through content. This made him wonder how companies could change their approach to capture attention.

After doing more research, Connor made several observations that he used to help the way companies target a young audience. First, he claims that there is misconception that we only have 6-8 second attention spans. Rather, he says that our generation is better at detecting marketing on social media, and we skip it faster if it doesn’t bring us value. Second, he says that companies often put generations in a box instead of trying to actually understand them. They should work to create more relatable content. Finally, Connor observed that Gen Z clings to brands that take a radical stance. The younger generation appreciates authenticity and wants to support brands that agree strongly with what they believe in.

Connor started the business when he was 15 and ended up selling it when he was 19. Just recently, however, he reacquired the business and is running it full time. YouthLogic has become very successful, and has worked with brands such as PepsiCo, T-Mobile, Raising Cane’s, and Levi’s.

 

Children of Passion – Pocketti Plushies – Sydney and Toni Loew

Meet Sydney and Toni Loew, two sisters whose lives changed right in Middle School. Their product was inspired by an entrepreneur class Syndey had in 7th grade, which allowed her to write out a business, even create a prototype, and then she got to pitch the idea. Her target was 11-14 year old kids, so she chose to go down the toy route, where she created her business, Pocketti Plushies! She wanted something that would differ from other plushies, and decided to add something functional to the plushie by giving it a pocket to hold a phone in. Because her product did so well, she was able to get her plushies launched into a business.

With a rocketing business, Sydney and her sister Toni began their career, creating unique plushies, with powers as they called it. Each plushie was uniquely designed and made with different personalities. They were able to attend several sales events and create television commercials, as well being able to pitch their ideas to schools. They were also awarded several prizes such as Wonder Girls by Women in Toys in 2016.  They were also able to get Walmart as a client!

While their business is run by them and their mother, they also attended school. Sydney is now a graphic designer intern at Disney’s Yellow Shoes internal advertising agency. While her sister goes to USC’s Thornton School of Music, where she is in two music bands! Their love for all things creative is truly inspirational as they continue to grow their business across the world.

Despite their successes, even they have had rejections. They participated on Shark Tank 3 times and got a no each time, but that hasn’t stopped them from continuing their business!

With their creativity and passion for innovation, they have created a business they hope to grow across the world. For now, we can appreciate how young these girls were when they began their journey, representing that even in Middle School, anything can be done if you put your mind to it. Success isn’t defined by the number of statistics, but by the satisfaction it gives to the customers and to you.

Mirrorless Apparel – Christ Centered Small Business

Mirrorless Apparel is making waves in the fashion industry with its unique blend of style and faith. Founded by a remarkably young and visionary entrepreneur, Mirrorless Apparel stands out not just for its trendy clothing but for its commitment to Christian values. The CEO, barely in his twenties at Texas A&M University, embarked on this journey with a clear mission: to create a brand that reflects his faith and inspires others.

His choice to establish a Christian company stems from a deep desire to integrate his beliefs into every aspect of his business. He believes that fashion can be a powerful medium to express one’s faith and values, and Mirrorless Apparel embodies this by offering clothing that carries positive, faith-based messages. This approach not only sets the brand apart in a crowded market but also resonates with customers who share similar values. The sneakers have Psalm 23 written on them all over the shoe in different areas and come in pink, black, white, blue and red, appealing to all ages of consumers.

Through Mirrorless Apparel, the young CEO aims to make a positive impact on society, demonstrating that business and faith can go hand in hand. His story is a testament to the power of youthful ambition and the importance of staying true to one’s principles, making Mirrorless Apparel a brand to watch in the coming years.

As someone who has a pair of these shoes, they are a great way to proudly wear your faith and start a conversation with someone at any point in your life.

 

Image result for mirroless papreale shoes

https://mirrorlessapparel.com/

– Reagan Thomas

Entrepreneur and High Schooler

The Gen Z entrepreneur who I discovered is a young women named Destiny Snow, raised by business owners she started a makeup business at just 15 years old.


Destiny Snow :: millennialentrepreneurs.com


While covid 19 hindered many from living the life they wanted, Snow didn’t let it stop her. Covid pushed her to find new opportunities for her business. She discovered early on that she needed to identify the target market for her products instead of trying to sell to family and friends. She jumped on the growing use of social media for business growth and learned how to sponsor people and companies who attracted the type of audience who she was looking to sell to.

Setting a good example for our declining society, Snow said she forced herself to learn and read about marketing so that she could implement what she learned along with her passion into her business.

Snow not only has started this business, successfully rolled with the punches but also aims to teach other young people today about entrepreneurship and marketing skills. She has done this through writing and releasing E-books and becoming a social media influencer.

It’s no wonder that Snow succeeded so well in the business industry because her mother, she says, is a successful business owner. Snow advises finding a model who you can be inspired by and who shows you how to succeed in your area. For Snow, this was her mother.

For me, the thing that’s one of the most impressive about Snow’s story is how she educated herself on how to succeed using marketing. She read books and described her house as looking like a library because of all the material she read to learn and continues to learn. Snow’s story is inspiring, and it continues to grow. She’s an example of what each of us is capable of.