In the past three years, while his classmates were doing homework and
playing sports, Moziah Bridges built himself a $150,000 business.
That's right--he started his business when he was 9 years old. Not
yet a teenager, Bridges now has five staff members and has received a
ton of media attention, from an appearance on the TV show
Shark Tank to features in
O magazine and
Vogue.
"I like to wear bow ties, because they make me look good and feel
good," Bridges writes on his website. "Designing a colorful bow tie is
just part of my vision to make the world a fun and happier place."
Ever the fashionista, he's reveled in style from a young age. At four
years old, Bridges wore a suit and tie whenever possible and insisted
on dressing himself.
His business, Mo's Bows, was born of his love for bow ties and his
dissatisfaction with the selection available for kids his age. Even
worse than the poor color selection, they were all clip-ons--Bridges
believed real men should tie their own ties. His grandmother taught him
to sew by hand and to use a sewing machine, using scraps to create his
favorite neckwear.
Within a few months, he had created his own collection of more than
two dozen bow ties. Friends and family fell in love with his creations.
Bridges upped his production, fashioning tidy bow ties from his
grandmother's vintage fabrics in an array of floral and African prints,
and even scraps of old taffeta dresses.
Word of mouth worked its magic, and soon Bridges was taking orders
through Facebook and selling on his own Etsy store. As demand increased,
his mother, grandmother, and other family members came on board to help
with production.
Today, each bow tie is still sewn from scratch, though Bridges has
expanded from vintage materials to tweeds and ginghams, with a formal
line of satins and silk. His bow ties are available in his own webstore,
on Etsy, and in boutiques throughout Texas, South Carolina, and
Tennessee.
When asked who his role models are, he said he looks up to Daymond John, who became his mentor as a result of the
Shark Tank appearance.
As if his early success in business weren't enough, Bridges has also
become something of a young philanthropist. This summer, he donated
$1,600 to send 10 children from his hometown of Memphis to Glenview
Summer Camp.
In a post on his blog, Bridges wrote,
"Memphis is ranked the highest of child hunger; most kids only get a
meal when school is in session. At the community center, the kids get a
meal and play time. Giving back to my community really helped me feel
humble. It also makes me smile because I see other kids smiling and
enjoying the camp."
What's next for this inspirational kidpreneur? In a recent interview, Bridges said he wants to go college and start a full clothing line by the time he's 20.
He's got it all figured out, folks; Moziah Bridges has a happy,
colorful life filled with business successes, social good,
work-school-life balance, and solid goals for the future. And he still
gets to bed at 8:30 every night!
What's holding you back?
For more on Shark Tank, see the video below with Barbara Corcoran on how to get on the show.
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