To solve the ever-constant problem of a lack of cash, Easton and Lawson Faulkner, ages nine and six respectively, have decided to turn old sports jerseys into pillows and sell them.
According to Easton Faulkner, they considered taking the traditional lemonade stand approach to earn spending money but were prompted by their father, Think Advertising owner Mat Faulkner, to seek another, more creative method.
“We wanted to make money because there were a lot of things we wanted to get, but we didn’t have any money to buy them,” Easton Faulkner said. “So we talked to Dad and said, ‘We want to start our own business.’ And we talked about different ideas. He said we should do something with old jerseys, so we talked about ties, quilts and pillows. Then we stuck on pillows.”
The young entrepreneurs then began to seek out and compare different seamstresses and look for ways to advertise in the community. According to Shelley Faulkner, the boys’ mother, they had their first encounter with the public at Get Down Downtown last month, where they closed their first sale.
Even though they are still working out some kinks with “a problem with some fuzzies” and finding the perfect model, Easton Faulkner has hopes for expansion in the future.
“We’re going to see how it turns out,” Easton Faulkner said. “If it turns out good and we sell a lot, we’ll continue the business and make other things besides pillows. So we’ll still do pillows, but we might start making ties.”
Shelley Faulkner said the boys are learning important lessons in money-managing and business concepts.
“(Mat) wanted them to learn life lessons at a young age and learn the importance of working for your money,” Shelley Faulkner said. “They’ve had two or three little business meetings, and after the first sale at Get Down Downtown, (Mat) showed them the money and talked about what they had to spend on printing the fliers, printing the poster and then how much it would cost to make the pillows. They looked at all the numbers to see how much it was costing them and how much they’ve made.”
Shelley Faulkner said she is excited for the boys to have this opportunity.
“I think they are having a lot of fun with it, and they are learning things they don’t even realize they are learning,” Shelley Faulkner said. “I think it’s a great learning experience for them, and if they can make a little money along the way then that’s just a plus.”
The Jersey Pillows, which can be made from any jersey someone brings, are priced at $25 for a youth-sized jersey, and $30 for an adult-sized jersey. A name can be added on the back for an extra $10. To order, call (501) 268-1771, or email mat@thinkadvertising.com.
