My first business in 16 years old

How I built my first IG shop secretly

Same as many Asian families, my parents controlled my life with their power before my 18 years old birthday. They banned most of my dreams and just hoped that I can focus on my study. When I was in high school, I hoped to open my own handmade shop on Instagram. To achieve this, a bank account and a phone with WhatsApp is needed but I didn’t have both back in the days.

I was 16 that year. I proposed the thought of having my own small business to my mum and was banned. She emphasised again and again on the importance of academic achievements that what I should do was just study harder. But I would say I was rebellious and never compromised on the restrictions. I was determined and started planning secretly for my business which sold customised handmade tote bags and rubber stamps.

The way of making enough profit for my first smartphone

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing — Walt Disney

1. From 0 to 1

Upon my determined decision on starting the business under my mum’s disapproval, I first asked for help from one of my friend to act as the contact person as I didn’t have a smartphone with WhatsApp. The main product of my shop is customised items so she handled the ordering issues and liaised with customers with their request before passing the details to me for production.

The second thing that needed to be ready is somewhere to get the money. I collaborated with another friend for using her bank account, in that case customers can send in the money of the products. I gave her 10% of my income for this. After all these fundamentals are ready, my shop was finally opened!

2. Trying and producing

Every day after school, I went to my friend’s home for the production of my products. Sometimes I went to the market for clothes needed for tote bags directly after school with my uniform on, sweating badly in the summer. I stored my sewing car and clothes in my friends home, worked till evening and went home for dinner without letting my mum know what I was working on. It was a hard time when starting up from zero when I also needed to balance my study.

The way I adopted to push myself to make things better and preventing myself from giving up is to tell more classmates around me what I’m doing. They acted as witnesses, not wanting to be teased by others as a loser, I put myself into a one-way highway which I can only strive for the best and achieve a better result.

Quitting is not an option when everyone knows what you’re doing

3. Reaching 1000 followers

It was just a few months till 1000 followers at that time, by promoting the products with special offers, giveaway campaigns, etc. This is really impressing for me as I never thought the shop could be that successful. Apart from the followers growth, I also earned the amount for purchasing a new smartphone, that is the time when I can start all communication work by myself without the help from my friend anymore.

The business continues until my final year in high school as school work for preparing public examination became more and more tough. I would say I never regret for this business and it would probably be the best memory in high school.

7 things that I learnt from this business

1. Every single coin represent hard work.
2. Don’t fear for the haters.
3. Perseverance lead to success.
4. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.
5. No regrets upon your decision but to work it out in your best.
6. There are no model answers in life.
7. Beat other’s doubt with your success.

Maybe the hardest part of life is just having the courage to try — Rachel Hollis