Young
Entrepreneurs
Nominate a Young Entrepreneur Today!
Our younger generation is paving the way with new creations and ideas. Some kids, teenagers and college students have started their own business and we want to hear about them! Share with us your “Young Entrepreneur” and we will highlight them on our website and social platforms.
Meg McCready
Meg started her virtual planning business in 2022. As a Worcester County resident, she was looking for a “work from home” lifestyle. Creating her own business allowed her a flexible and stable career as well as help support other businesses. She completed her Wedding Planner certificate from IAP Career College and with her organizational skills she also pursued becoming a virtual assistant. Her services now include social media management, administrative assistant, content manager and various types of event planning. To utilize Simply Blessed Planning and learn more visit here.
Tip Tough - RJ Bratts
When RJ was 12, he became consumed with the idea that there had to be a way to help his dad, a professional chef, protect his hands. Bob would often come home with painful cuts and bandaged fingers which sometimes kept him out of work.
A year later, 3-D printouts in hand, RJ was accepted into the Young Entrepreneurs Academy at the Salisbury (MD) Area Chamber of Commerce and formed his company, Picklehead LLC. For months he went to classes and on field trips after school, learning how to set up a business, find funding, craft a pitch, and bring the Tip Tough® to market – all while attending middle school and playing on his soccer team.
In October 2016, RJ received start-up funding from the Shore Hatchery Competition at Salisbury University (beating out grown-ups from 30 businesses) for a Second-Place award of $15,000. In March 2017, RJ was featured as the youngest inventor to present a product at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago, and was chosen to pitch to Home Shopping Network.
The Tip Tough’s big break nationally came in November 2021 when RJ appeared on the new small business pitch show America’s Big Deal. Small businesses pitch their products to America and the product that has the highest sales by the end of the show gets to make a big deal with one of three major retailers. RJ won the show with his Tip Tough and struck a $100, 000 deal with Joy Mangano of QVC. To buy your own tip tough or learn more visit here.
EDesigns - Emma Johnson
When Emma was young, her grandmother gave her a sewing machine as a gift, which
blossomed into a beautiful creation of hand made items. Emma and her
inspirational grandmother collectively designed and produced over sized pencil
cases that became a huge hit, and while attending the 6th grade,
friends and schoolmates were wowed by her talent and she began taking orders.
The demand reached from teachers to family co-workers, and evolved into
expanding her line and adding in purses, bags, hair scrunchies, steering wheel
covers and more. She began to set up at local art strolls to sell to the community
and expand her business. During the Spring of 2020, due to Covid-19, she began
a venture that had always been a desire, opening up her own Etsy shop. This now
allows her to sell her products across the country and still participate in art strolls.
Emma’s greatest inspiration is her Grandmother, the very one that gifted her the
sewing machine and was able to understand the exact vision that she was aiming
for while designing a product. In her free time, Emma works at Assateague Surf
Shop, plays volleyball and enjoys spending time with family and friends. After
High School, she plans to attend Messiah University with a major in Accounting
and minor in Entrepreneurship. While in college, she aspires to visit other
countries to help others in need. Emma’s goal is to seek a job in Accounting
and one day, open up her own business. Purchase your very own handmade item here.
