Starting a business in high school can be a very daunting but very achievable goal. Michael Johnson, 11, a SHS student-athlete, runs his own clothing line called Uncasual. After asking him about his journey, The Leaf staff got some insight into what it is really like to be a student entrepreneur.
Q: Tell me a little bit about what your thoughts were on the name and design of your business?
A: “The name of my business is Uncasual. I just always hated how people always do what everybody else does. I wanted to express my way of doing your own thing.”
Q: Was there anyone that mentored you throughout this process or have you been figuring it out yourself?
A: I would say kind of both. I take inspiration from a lot of things that I see, but most things I just did by myself. There were certain things that I just had to navigate through myself. There is one person, Sunna Isaac, who owns his own business called Misunderstood, and I think he has helped me a lot.
Q: What inspired you to start your own business?
A: I just wanted a different way to express myself, because sometimes I feel like words are not enough. The clothing line can just help me get my message across in a different way.
Q: What are some marketing strategies that helped kick off your business?
A: Mainly social media and the Uncasual Instagram specifically.
Q: What advice would you give to a peer who is thinking about starting a business?
A: Go straight into it. There are no negatives to at least trying.
Q: What are some benefits that this brings that a standard job for a teenager does not have?
A: I would say getting to make your own decisions and feeling out what you like. I do not like listening to people telling me what to do all the time, and I do not have to when I am my own boss. There is no one telling me where to be and at what time and what to do.
Q: Have there been any struggles so far?
A: Definitely. Right now, with manufacturing overseas and time delays. Earlier in the spring, I designed some shorts, sent in the money, and I was just ghosted by them and wasted the money.
Q: How do you handle being an athlete, student, and young entrepreneur?
A: It is all about time management and relying on my peers to help me, like a supporting cast.
Q: What are your long term goals for your business?
A: I definitely want to continue this out of high school. My overall goal is to be an entrepreneur.
