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.
Brandon Francis
Age: 12
Grade and School: Seventh grade, Explore Academy
Favorite subject and why? My favorite subject is science, because I enjoy chemistry and experiments.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a chef or an entrepreneur when I grow up.
What hobbies do you have? I enjoy making my beads, golfing, guitar and playing video games.
Business name: Bradley’s Bead Bureau
Where did the idea come from? I picked this name because I liked that everything starts with a B.
How did you become inspired? I first started beading because it was a fun pastime and then I started really enjoying it and wanted to keep learning how to do other patterns and I really like doing the 3D patterns. My family was really supportive and that inspired me a lot.
What was your motivation behind starting your own business? I wanted to be able to make and sell my own products and feel proud of making my own money.
What is your product? I make a variety of different Perler bead crafts including magnets, keychains, earrings, coasters, and more but my favorites ones are the 3D items.
Please describe the products you make: The items I make are made out of melty beads called Perler beads and I make a pattern and iron them together to create my items.
How long does it take to make your products? It takes anywhere from 10-15 minutes up to a few hours for the majority of them but a few of the big 3D pieces I have made have take a few days.
Describe your process from start to finish: “I first find a pattern I like or make my own, gather my supplies like the boards and different color beads I will need and then begin to place the beads onto the board until I complete the pattern. After all the beads are placed I heat up the iron and get the ironing paper and place it over the beads and then iron slightly until the beads start to melt (but not too much) and then let the beads cool and add the additional pieces like keychains if needed.”
What is the price of your products? I have products that start at $5 and go up to about $35 mostly, but I have done a few pieces that sold for up to $50 which was a lamp!
If I am interested in your product, how do I contact you? I currently have an Instagram page @BradleysBeadBureau21 and I have my contact phone number on flyers that I have available. I am working on business cards and a Facebook page which I should have at the next Farmers Market in February.
How long have you been involved with Kids Can? I started with a summer camp lemonade stand last summer (2022) and then I took the Business Builders Summer Camp right afterward.
What is your favorite part about being involved in the program? My favorite part of this program is that it helped me see that my product was new and exciting and gave me an opportunity to show others. All of my instructors were so helpful and encouraging that it gave me more confidence.
In your own words, share an inspirational message: One thing that my grandma always used to tell me is that you have to be kind and work hard and then you will always be successful. So a lot of times I remember her when I am doing my crafts because she was really special and would be so proud of me.
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.
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