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Christian Cuello

Ms. O'Keefe/Ms. Robinson

English IV

3 April 2019

Can Teens Have a Business?

Many sneaker business are having a huge controversy between the people that have a

store and the people that use social media. Many sneaker business believe that people that do

not have their store are taking away a lot of the customers. This is because people will not have

to go to a store rather they will go meet someone to buy the shoes. People will want that

because people will get it cheaper. Some think that it is not possible for kids to run their own

business at a young age. Adults and many other people believe that people need to have a

storefront to be able to run a business. While others think that it is possible for kinds to run their

own business without a storefront. Since many teenagers, started their business at home or on

social media. Also, still others believe that young people do not have the skills/abilities to run a

business at a young age. Kids should focus on school. These different opinions stem from

disagreements about that teenagers are not able to start a sneaker business without a

storefront, but many believe teenagers do not need a storefront to open/run a sneaker business.

Also, people believe teenagers do not have the abilities to run it.

Many adults believe that kids would not have a good business if they do not have a

storefront and need a lot of things to be able to run a sneaker business. Many people believe

that teenagers are not ready to have a business. The teenagers are not ready to have all of the

responsibilities it has to have a business. In a article named ​“Sell Your Sole: Here’s How to

Open a Sneaker Store”​, it states “Opening a store is going to be a lot of hard work, long hours,
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and headaches. For the devoted few who can commit to this endeavor, it's not only a potentially

lucrative opportunity but a chance to give back to the sneaker community that they came up

in”(​Welty, Matt. “Sell Your Sole: Here's How to Open a Sneaker Store.” ​Complex​, Complex, 1

June 2018,​ ​www.complex.com/sneakers/2015/04/how-to-open-a-sneaker-store​). The quote is

explaining that there is going to be a lot of things that comes to having a business. Many people

can give up really easy and it’s shows that it takes a lot of motivation to have a business. Also, if

you are going to open a store, do it for the community and to give back to all of the people. The

thing that the quote is revealing is that teenagers are not going to be able to start a business at

such a young age. The teenagers are not going to be ready because the kids are going to have

headaches and many will not be able to handle it. Also, the teenagers are going to need

motivation to have a business, but nowadays, many teenagers do not have the motivation to do

anything.

Many people believe that it is so much more better to have a storefront rather than have

a business that happens at home. In a article named ​“Sell Your Sole: Here’s How to Open a

Sneaker Store”,​ it states “That's the beauty of running an independent store: You can do what

you want and make the business as a representation of your own imprint” (​Welty, Matt. “Sell

Your Sole: Here's How to Open a Sneaker Store.” ​Complex​, Complex, 1 June 2018,

www.complex.com/sneakers/2015/04/how-to-open-a-sneaker-store​). The quote is showing that

having your own storefront is very unique and you can do what you want with the store. It will be

better to have the storefront because it is going to showing the things you wants and will be able

to represent your ideas for a business. The quote is revealing that if someone has a storefront,

than it is going to be better because people will be able to showcase their business. If teenagers

open a business at their own house, many people will not want to come and see what you have
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because it will be very sketchy. People will rather go to a business that has a storefront rather

than go to one that they might be scared to go to.

Many people believe that teenagers are not prepared to have a business. It takes a lot of

skills and responsibilities to have a business. In the article named “Starting a Business? Don't

Forget These Seven Important Things.”, it states “Before you start, determine if you're actually

prepared to start a business. Running a brand, no matter how small, takes a ton of dedication.

Expect your day-to-day life to change. Not only will you need to put down a significant financial

investment, but you'll also need to put down some emotional investment as well”(Council,

Young Entrepreneur. “Starting a Business? Don't Forget These Seven Important Things.”

Inc.com​, Inc., 2 Nov. 2017,

www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/seven-essential-things-to-remember-when-starting-a-

small-business.html​.​). The quote is showing that opening/having your own business takes a lot

of preparation. Having a business is going to change your life. The business is going to have a

financial and emotional investment that adults really know how to handle it. The quote is

revealing that many teenagers are not going to have a storefront plus are not going to be

prepared to have a business. Having a business without. storefront is still really time wasting

because you have to post pictures and talk to lots of people through social media. Also, have a

business is going to be very emotional which the teenagers can not handle. Kid should be

focusing on school instead of a business.

Many teenagers believe that they do not need a storefront to be able to run a business.

Teenagers believe they can make money/profit with social media. Many people believe that kids

do not have the abilities to run a sneaker business, but Benjamin is going to prove all people

wrong. In the article named “Meet the Plug: Benjamin Kickz, The Teenage Sneaker Mogul.”, it

states “he attempts to make at least 35 to 40 percent profit on each sneaker release....Benjamin
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selling sneakers on Instagram...he’s made nearly a million dollars reselling sneakers so far.”

“Last week, my teachers told my parents I shouldn’t bring a phone to school because it’s so

distracting. So, I got another phone, which I bring to school that has my friends and parents on

it” (Welty, Matt. “Meet the Plug: Benjamin Kickz, The Teenage Sneaker Mogul.” ​Complex​,

Complex, 1 Nov. 2017,

www.complex.com/sneakers/2015/12/benjamin-kickz-teenage-sneaker-plug​). The quote is

saying that Benjamin Kickz tries to make 35 to 40 percent of profit in each sneaker release, and

uses Instagram to sell his sneakers. Benjamin has nearly made a millions dollars with just

selling sneakers. Also, it is showing how his teachers believe he should not bring a one to

school because it is distracting him, but Benjamin is making a big decision. Many adults can not

believe that Benjamin Kickz is selling sneakers to make his money. His own parents thought

Benjamin was crazy about buying expensive/many shoes and selling them later. The quote is

proving the all wrong because if a kid at 16 years old, has almost a million dollars just selling

sneakers on Instagram, than anyone can do it. Also, the quote is showing teenager/ younger

kids can do it since they have the advantage of social media. Also, it shows that Benjamin made

a huge decision as a teenager. The decision was that he got another phone for just school, so

his business does not distract him.

People are going to see how Chase Reed started a business from his own home and

social media. Chase Reed is one of the people that started a business as a teenager. Chase

started business from an apartment that him and his dad rented. In the article named “How to

Pawn Designer Sneakers and Make a Profit.”, it states “The father and son have opened a

pawn shop exclusively devoted to sneakers. Sneaker Pawn USA is based in an apartment in

New York’s Harlem where the two used to live and have converted into sneaker ​startup​ central.

Like many 16-year-olds, Chase Reed spends his days tied to his iPhone and Instagram
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account. But you won't catch his dad, Troy Reed, bugging him to get off social media anytime

soon. That's because with each "like" the teenager acquires online, the father and son are

seeing big dollars” (Rogers, Kate. “How to Pawn Designer Sneakers and Make a Profit.” ​CNBC,​

CNBC, 24 Jan. 2015,

www.cnbc.com/2015/01/23/how-teen-entrepreneur-created-a-profitable-sneaker-pawn-shop.htm

l​.​). The quote is showing that a son opened up a pawn shop about sneakers and built it out of

an apartment. Chase built his sneaker business out of a store, but also, out of social media.

Chase’s dad does not care about his son being on social media because his son is doing it for

the good not the bad. Many adults will not believe that Chase built a sneaker business out of an

apartment. Many people will look at it weird because it is at home, but in reality, it’s not. This

quote is proving kids do not need a storefront to have a business, you can start it out of home.

Chase is doing that same exact thing and many people are going to store. Also, it shows that

people can do it out of social media. Troy does not care that Chase is on his phone since he is

doing good things for business.

Many people believe that kids can not run a business with having a storefront. Gautam

Malik is running a sneaker business out of his parents home. In a article named “Teen Runs

Sneaker Business out of Family’s Home”, it states “He said he made his first sales when he was

12 -- first to friends and then online. I have a sneaker business and I am running it off my

parents house. I buy all of the limited sneakers like Yeezys. I have an intern and her name is

Anu” (​Shirazi, Elina. “Teen Runs Sneaker Business out of Family's Home.” ​YOUR4STATE​,

YOUR4STATE, 7 July 2017,

www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/teen-runs-sneaker-business-out-of-familys-home/760271895​.)

. T​he quote is saying that Malik has been selling sneakers online. Malik started since he was 12

and sold to his friends and online. Malik does not keep a lot of sneakers for a lot of time, 1-2
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days. Malik runs the business out of his parents house, but social media has really impacted his

business. Malik has gained a lot of fame since doing business from online. Many adults can not

believe that Malik is running a business out of his parents home and he was been doing it since

he was 12. People would not believe that Malik has a intern without have a storefront and the

intern is older than him. The quote is proving all of the people wrong because Malik is doing it

out of his parents house and for so long. People will be shocked about the intern because

people would not believe a kid his age will have the abilities to do that. People need a lot of

skills at such a young age to have an intern and help you run the business.

Many of the people believe that teenagers do not have to ability to have a business

since they are so young, but teenagers think otherwise. Teenagers believe that they have what

it takes to have a business. Teenagers believe that they have a really huge advantage because

they have social media. Adults believe that teenagers have a disadvantage with social media

because they might not be responsible with it. Teenagers have a bigger voice to the people

buying things because they know what is trending. This issue is going to be resolved one day. It

is going to be resolved because once adults see that social media is a good thing and is going

to put their business out there than they won’t care. My opinion on this controversy is that

teenagers do not need a storefront to have a business/sneaker business. I have been doing an

experiment since the beginning of the year for the 20Time. I have seen that it is easier to not

have one because you are going to have the money right away and that’s what teenagers want.

They want to have the money right away. Also, on social media, you get to meet more people

and teach you many things.

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(Council, Young Entrepreneur. “Starting a Business? Don't Forget These Seven Important

Things.” ​Inc.com​, Inc., 2 Nov. 2017,

www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/seven-essential-things-to-remember-when-starting-a-

small-business.html​. PG.3​)

(Rogers, Kate. “How to Pawn Designer Sneakers and Make a Profit.” ​CNBC,​ CNBC, 24 Jan.

2015,

www.cnbc.com/2015/01/23/how-teen-entrepreneur-created-a-profitable-sneaker-pawn-shop.htm

l​. PG. 5)

(Shirazi, Elina. “Teen Runs Sneaker Business out of Family's Home.” ​YOUR4STATE,​

YOUR4STATE, 7 July 2017,

www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/teen-runs-sneaker-business-out-of-familys-home/760271895

PG. 5)

(Welty, Matt. “Meet the Plug: Benjamin Kickz, The Teenage Sneaker Mogul.” ​Complex​,

Complex, 1 Nov. 2017,

www.complex.com/sneakers/2015/12/benjamin-kickz-teenage-sneaker-plug​ PG. 4)

(​Welty, Matt. “Sell Your Sole: Here's How to Open a Sneaker Store.” ​Complex,​ Complex, 1 June

2018,​ ​www.complex.com/sneakers/2015/04/how-to-open-a-sneaker-store​ PG. 2)