Starting A Business: Age Doesn’t Matter

This story is to show young people can achieve something and that people can set up their own business no matter what age they are.

Since my early to mid-teens, I always had a burning ambition to run my own business and at the age of 19, my dream came true.

I’m the founder and owner of Roxiie’s Treasures, which sells hand-made and costume jewellery, bags, accessories and a few other interesting odds and ends.

Late last year, I was selling my wares at a local craft fair when I found out about an opportunity to have a rented space at an arts and crafts emporium based upstairs in a vintage tea rooms. I thought it would be a good chance to sell some more of my jewellery and get my name out there to people.

When I was growing up, I was always interested in arts and crafts although I wasn’t sure how it would turn into a business idea. Since high school, I always wanted to run my own business but wasn’t sure which field I wanted to go into but then I found a niche. I just thought jewellery is always popular so I gave it a go and it seemed to do well.

When I was 18 years old, I went on a 15 week course surrounding setting up your own business and enterprise. I got taught how to create a business plan and work out costs as well as advertising and marketing ideas. The college helped me to find support and I started going to The Women’s Organisation which helps women get into business to do more courses. After completing the courses, I still wasn’t sure what to do and gained employment as a bar maid, but the entrepreneurial urge would not be denied.

I started selling things on social media, my old possessions at first but then I bought a box of old jewellery which I did quite well off that. I spoke to my mum and she suggested to start a business in jewellery where I buy in jewellery findings and start making my own pieces. I have always been creative growing up and thought this was the best path to go down. I started selling a mixture of hand made jewellery and bought in goods including unusual items I used to pick up from fairs and sell them on. My clientele is a mixture of young and old and I try to cater for both.

The biggest challenge is trying to get your name out there and building up your clientele which is also a challenge when you start out with low funds. I have always said if you work hard, you will achieve what you want in life and don’t let anyone get you down and don’t care what they think, all you can do is try your best.

Within a year of setting up my business Roxiie’s Treasures, at the age of 20, I opened up my very own shop on the high street called The Treasure Trove which sells a range of jewellery, bags, scarves, gifts & home decor including cushions and hand decorated items. Since starting up in business, I have built my clientele into regular customers and got a good social media presence.