Don’t Be Afraid to Shine: Dreamer ENT Interview with the Founder of Hayleigh’s Cherished Charms
On my youth website DreamerENT.com I interviewed the 12-year-old founder of an innovative jewelry company, Hayleigh’s Cherished Charms. Hayleigh’s story will be sure to inspire you to believe that you can follow your dreams no matter the obstacles in life and to make the lives of other a little brighter…
12-year-old Hayleigh Scott shows that even when rain falls in your life, you can make the decision to shine…
You’re never too young to start your own business, but when 12-year-old Hayleigh Scott was 5-years-old she had to wait until she was a little older just to describe to her family the invention she wanted to create. She turned a circumstance in her life – having hearing impairment, into a way to spread awareness, support a greater cause, and lend a little color, sparkle and style to ears around the globe. Read all about Hayleigh’s story and shining ingenuity below:
DreamerENT: What inspired you to start your business Hayleigh’s Cherished Charms and how did it go from an idea to a business?
Hayleigh: My business started as an idea when I was 5 years old. I am severe to profoundly hearing impaired and wear hearing aids to help me hear. When I was 4 years old, I went to a school for the deaf. Like me, some of the kids were hiding their hearing aids. When I saw that, I decided that I didn’t want to hide my hearing aids anymore. We were visiting my grandparents in Texas when I first shared my idea with my parents. I was drawing at the kitchen table with my twin sister, Vienna when my mom walked in and asked us what we were drawing. I told her I was drawing charms and tube twists for hearing aids. My pictures were a little hard to understand so it took me a few years and a lot of tries to get my mom to understand what I had drawn.
She told me that she thought my ideas might be patentable. So, my mom and dad helped me prepare to make my first presentation to a patent attorney. I was only 8 and went into a board room and had to share my ideas with adults in the attorney’s office. I applied for a provisional patent and later a full patent for my products. Then, I went on to open my on-line business www.HayleighsCherishedCharms.com. I also have email (cherishedcharms@gmail.com), a facebook page, twitter account, and an ETSY shop as well. I have been very blessed to have distributers of my charms in both nationally and internationally. I am currently working on partnering with a major hearing aid mold company to produce part of my product line. It is very exciting.
DreamerENT: How did you learn about where to get your materials, and how to set up the business? Did you have any challenges along the way?
