Rogers City Lifestyle teamed up with local high school journalism students on a series of articles about youth culture, business, and more. This article is part of the series, written by the team at Rogers High School Mountie Spectrum newspaper: Wednesday Bewley, Evelyn Crisostomo, Kenady Enyart, Marcuz Torres, and Adelyn Wright.
In communities across Northwest Arkansas, a new generation of entrepreneurs are transforming the business scene—not with decades of experience, but with youthful determination and high ambitions. From baking sweet treats to launching a self-care business, these teenage entrepreneurs are doing it all.
Driven by creativity and determination, these teens are turning their hobbies into side hustles, and are not only building real-world skills, but also making an impact within their communities.
“I like knowing that I can make something and give them a good smile on their face,” said Jordan Duran, 11th grade. “I didn’t know a lot of people before I started selling and now I have people who are my regulars. It kind of brought me closer to getting to know people and being more out there.”
As these teens are navigating through their own personal journeys and the challenges of running their own businesses, they are learning from their past mistakes and have some advice for those getting ready to start one of their own. To better understand what it takes to succeed from scratch, it’s best to hear from those who have experience and valuable insight.
“Get ready to fall and get right back up," said Nayhda Aispuro, 10th grade. "Surrounding yourself with others that have similar goals is a great way to keep pushing and stay motivated. Haste, poor judgment and impulsive decisions can often lead to mistakes. We all make mistakes, don’t worry, nor beat yourself up about it, we just have to take our time and learn from them. Patience and taking the time to plan and execute carefully rather than rushing is key to achieving goals."
Always have something to fall back on, Duran said. "Also, make sure you have a start plan before you begin your business because when I started out, I didn’t plan and I had no materials. Making sure you have a source of income to make purchases towards your business helps a lot."
While many may start their business for some extra pocket money here and there, others have bigger dreams of launching their brand into a well-recognized name, venturing far beyond their hometown. For those with high ambitions and a long-term goal, the early hustle is just the foundation of the bigger picture that leads to a booming business.
“My mom and I want to open a little store where people can come in and shop among the vintage and modern-style flowers we sell. We plan on mixing the modern and vintage styles, creating our own unique product,” said Esmeralda Almaraz,11th grade.
Customers don't want to feel like your next paycheck, they want to feel valued and know their products are made with care and thoughtful intentions.