Editor’s Note: Each month, the Sun-News is spotlighting a youth entrepreneur participating in the Cruces Kids Can – Jr. Vendor Program, a project meant to inspire and equip the youngest business people. Students’ participation entails showcasing and selling their goods from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Farmers & Crafts Market of Las Cruces in the city’s downtown.
Dathan Kemp
Age: 10
Grade and School: Fifth grade, Homeschooled
Favorite subject and why? I really enjoy science because I love doing experiments.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a pilot.
What hobbies do you have? I love building airplanes from scratch material and flying my RC airplane. I also love building airplanes out of Lego pieces.
Business name: Colorful Cone Creations
Where did the idea come from? We have a lot of pine trees at our house and my brother and I always have to pick them up from the yard, so I had this thought that I could make something out of them and it might be something people want to buy at the market and could use to decorate their homes.
How did you become inspired? I looked around online at different ways to paint and decorate using pine cones. Pinterest is a great place to get ideas
What was your motivation behind starting your own business? I was a part of the Kids Can entrepreneur summer program and saw how interesting starting a business could be. The experience helped me realize I would be able to use my interest in creating things.
What is your product? I use pine cones to make different kinds of home decor including wreaths and flower bouquets.
Please describe the products you make: I make home decor items using pine cones. The wreaths I make can be hung on the door but they can also be used as table decor with a candle in the center. The flowers I make look great when they are bundled together as a bouquet in a vase, but also look good as a single flower.
How long does it take to make your products? It depends on the piece that I’m making, but it can take several hours from start to finish to make a large wreath, which is my most time-consuming product to make. The pine cone flowers take about an hour.
Describe your process from start to finish: I first have to prepare the pine cones by washing them and cooking them in the oven on a very low temperature for 45 minutes. This gets rid of any bugs that might be hiding in them. I then either spray paint or paint by hand each individual pine cone. After it is dried, I drill a hole in the ones that I will turn into flowers. I then wrap green craft tape around a wooden skewer to create the stem. I use a hot glue gun to secure the stem into the pine cone. I use fake flower petals and glue them onto the top. This makes it look realistic. If I am making a wreath, I prepare them and paint them like described above, then I use a metal frame and hot glue them onto burlap and wrap it all around. Sometimes I add additional decor around the pine cones, such as small pumpkins on my Thanksgiving wreath.
What are the prices of your products? The small pinecone wreaths are $8, and large wreaths are $12. The pine cone flowers are $2.00 each and I will tie them into a bouquet if you purchase more than one.
If I am interested in your product, how do I contact you? Please feel free to come see me at the Farmers Market on the second Saturday of every month, or you can email my mom at [email protected].
How long have you been involved with Kids Can? I participated in the Kids Can entrepreneur program this last summer and really learned a lot. I just started selling at the Farmers Market with the program two months ago.
What is your favorite part about being involved in the Kids Can program? I can be creative and earn spending money for my hobbies like building model airplanes. I also have a fun time selling at the market.
In your own words, share an inspirational message: There are two things in life that you are in complete control of: your attitude and your effort. Both go a long way!
April Christensen is the founder of the Kids Can Youth Entrepreneur Program at Community Action Agency. For more information, she can be reached at [email protected] or call 575-680-6766.
More Jr. Vendors: