Maile McManis with some of the bags that she creates.

Maile McManis says she founded her business, Sewing with Smiles, when she was 11 years old. Working with the Young Americans Center for Financial Education, she developed a business plan to create one-of-a-kind purses and bags made from recycled materials. “For some of my creations, I use potato chip bags or candy wrappers. It’s about keeping stuff out of the trash and reusing it instead.” She estimates she’s made nearly $30,000 over the past six years selling at various craft shows.

Now a Northfield High School senior, she wants to help other young people grow their businesses. McManis is co-president of the Northfield DECA club. DECA is an international student organization that teaches kids about marketing, finance, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. “It really gives kids the skills to go out in the business world,” explains McManis.

Fifth grader Faith Williams sells her Perler Bead creations.

The Northfield DECA club held a holiday market where younger students who attend nearby feeder schools sold their wares while learning about DECA. Faith Williams, a fifth grader at Isabella Bird Elementary School, sold crafts she creates using Perler Beads. On display were beaded journals, magnets, cups, and keychains. She said she started her first business during the Covid-19 pandemic selling masks. After the crisis waned, she founded her Sow a Seed with Faith’s Beads business. Williams says she definitely wants to be a business owner when she grows up. “I love the idea of being my own boss.” And she says having her own business “has really helped me with my social skills and learning about financial literacy.”

Finn Woolf became interested in cologne from TikTok.

Northfield tenth grader Finn Woolf is relatively new to the business world. He started his cologne business, Slopestyle, nine months ago. He says he got interested in fragrances by watching TikTok videos. He then did more research to develop unique cologne recipes. Woolf has loved learning about business, although he isn’t sure that’s what he ultimately wants to do. “But this has really helped me develop leadership skills and networking skills that will be important no matter what I do.”

Front Porch photos by Christie Gosch