Indiana student, 17, uses business savvy for online boutique
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - When Keegan Beeler started an Instagram-based clothing boutique last spring, the goal was to make a little extra gas money.
'œIt turned into something I actually liked doing,'ť said the 17-year-old West Vigo High School student. 'œI just wanted to keep making it better and better.'ť
Her fledgling business enterprise, Graceful Bloom Boutique, has succeeded way beyond her expectations. 'œLittle did I imagine I would have so many followers and sales in the thousands,'ť she said.
Operating the online boutique 'œhas been so much fun,'ť said Beeler, now a West Vigo junior. It's also kept her busy, balancing her business, schoolwork, athletics and other school activities. She is in the Top 10 of her class.
Graceful Bloom Boutique focuses on thrifting and upcycling. She gathers thrifted items from second-hand stores or online postings, then 'œupcycles'ť the item and posts it on the boutique page for an online auction.
She uses tools such as Venmo to take payment, and she ships items as well as coordinates a local delivery or pickup. Beeler makes the items more trendy by adding a design, bleaching them, cropping them or using tie-dye.
She has a vinyl machine and heat press, and recently she bought an embroidery machine. A guest room at her house has been converted into her 'œoffice'ť and work space; it has the clothing to be sold, supplies, equipment and purchased items packaged and ready to go.
The clothing is popular with high school and college students. 'œI sell a lot of sporting clothing,'ť said Beeler, who has sold more than 600 items so far.
She sells items by posting pictures on Instagram at #gracefulbloomboutique, and she also markets items on Facebook. The key to success is getting new followers, and she uses giveaways to help gain new customers.
'ťI'm quite impressed with how successful it's been,'ť said her mom, Erin Beeler, a teacher at West Vigo Middle School. She had been encouraging her daughter to consider a part-time job, and when the pandemic forced schools to close in the spring, Keegan used the time and opportunity to start her own business.
With her parents' encouragement, Keegan has set up a savings account and will use most of her earnings to help pay for college.
In school, she's pursuing a business career pathway, and she is using what she learns there to guide her in her entrepreneurial effort. Her business/CTE teacher, Mike Richards, has offered invaluable guidance, she said.
'ťI love the business program,'ť Beeler said. 'œI love learning about marketing and how to make things better in a business.'ť
Richards said Beeler has excelled in his classes, which include Digital Apps, principles of business management, accounting and the business capstone course. She's also involved with DECA, a business organization that helps students develop skills in management, entrepreneurship, marketing and hospitality.
Beeler will receive college credit for taking Richards' business classes; by the end of her junior year, she will have earned nine college credits.
'œWith her love of the business world, I am confident Keegan will have a very successful future and most likely be a CEO,'ť he said.
Looking to the future, Keegan, who plays varsity volleyball and is a member of National Honor Society, plans to go to college and very likely will study business at Indiana State University.
Also, she hopes to grow her clothing boutique and one day have a physical space to operate it as well.
Remote (at home) learning has its advantages because she can tend to her business between classes.
However, she'd much rather be in school and interacting with her friends and peers. 'œI miss school,'ť she said.
Beeler has learned a lot with her business enterprise.
'ťI've learned I'm capable of pursuing a career in business,'ť she said. 'œIf I put my mind to it, I can achieve it.'ť
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Source: Tribune-Star