It’s never too early to start a business

GILLIAN KLAWANSKY

From importing and selling everything from fidget spinners to tech products, teenage brothers Braden and Cody Rosin have made huge profits. Braden matriculated from King David High School Victory Park last year, while Cody is in Grade 11 at King David High School Linksfield. For the brothers, entrepreneurship is a birthright. “My mom used to own a toy shop, so I was always interested in small businesses,” says Braden.

“It all started when I was in Grade 10. Through various websites, my brother and I found a contact in China for fidget cubes and spinners. We imported them into the country, and sold thousands of them. Most sales were made through school and Facebook. I fell in love with the process of getting someone a product, putting it aside, and arranging payment and delivery.”

Over the years, the brothers have continued to import and sell cost-effective products including Apple AirPod replicas, electric lighters, and screen protectors for cell phones. They always charged at least a 50% markup.

“I wanted to be in a position in my teen years where I could be somewhat self-sufficient,” says Braden. “I wanted to make money without demanding it from my parents, even though they could help me. I’ve been able to buy myself various items including laptops, printers, and a bike.” Braden is financially savvy as well, investing much of what he has made into fixed deposits. “You have to invest money to make money,” he says. Earning gives me a sense of control.”

Though he will begin his studies towards a BCom Accounting degree at the University of Johannesburg this year, Braden still imports and sells products, does promotions, and works for a logistics start-up called Click Courier, where he earns a share of the profit. Ultimately, he hopes to run his own company. “I never want to be bossed by someone, I want to be my own boss – it’s a slogan I live by. I see South Africa as a start-up country. It’s such a good place to roll out businesses, people are friendly and always willing to look at new things.”

Hodaya Vaknin started her graphic design business, Tiny Graphics, at the age of 15 while in Grade 10 at Maharsha Girls High School. “I was the informal graphic designer of the school,” she says. “I started the school newspaper, made slideshows of our camps, and designed the posters for our productions and fundraising events.” Asked to put together a slideshow for a Batmitzvah, Vaknin decided to try and make money out of her hobby. “At first, everyone was sceptical and apprehensive because of my age. Yet by word of mouth, it developed.”

While she was very academic at school, Vaknin enjoyed the creative outlet her business gave her. “When you love something, you make time for it. I’d set aside an hour on weekdays after my homework was done, and I’d also work on orders on weekends. It allowed me to feel productive and validated in a way that wasn’t related to school.”

Designing wedding, Batmitzvah, and Barmitzvah invitations and benchers, Vaknin also branched into personalised gifts, school-yearbook design, and corporate logos and stickers for small businesses. “I opened my business mainly to help people find an affordable way to treasure the special moments in life,” she says. “That’s why my slogan is ‘treasuring the little things’. I also champion communication. The power of words is an aspect of my work.”

Now 18 and studying towards a psychology and English degree through the University of South Africa, Vaknin still runs Tiny Graphics and works at The Star Academy, a learning centre for children with autism and related disorders. Ultimately, she hopes to find time for all her passions.

Eighteen-year-old Jarren Bernitz first discovered his passion for DJing in Grade 8, while at King David High School Linksfield. “I was always interested in music. I started out trying to play guitar, but that didn’t work out. Then I realised that I loved music in a different way, and knew I wanted to DJ. In Grade 9, I started taking lessons and since then, I’ve worked as a DJ. I started out doing house parties, and it grew from there to corporate gigs and Barmitzvahs and Batmitzvahs.”

Time management was key to keeping up with his school work and DJing commitments. “I’d prepare early for gigs, at least two weeks before,” says Bernitz. “My friends would joke about DJing in class so my teachers knew – they were even at some of my gigs. They were very supportive of my work.” He’s also grateful that his mother insisted that he save his earnings.

Aside from a pure love of music, Bernitz says his passion for DJing comes down to making people happy. “You see people dancing to your music, they’re having a good time, and it’s all because of you. It makes me feel accomplished in a way.” Having just matriculated, Bernitz is currently taking a gap year and focusing on DJing. He’s still making plans for his future, but would consider taking his DJing to the next level overseas. “I’m just building up though,” he laughs. “Baby steps.”

To teens seeking to make money from their passions, Bernitz says, “Go for it! You have only one chance to make an impact in school, so don’t be afraid. If the worst comes to the worst, it fails, and you start again. You’ve just got to believe in yourself.”

A passion for wildlife coupled with frustration at limited Kruger Park sightings led Nadav Ossendryver down an entrepreneurial path. At the age of 15, he started Latest Sightings, an app allowing people to share their wildlife sightings in real time. He’s grateful for the support his school, King David High School Linksfield, provided, allowing him to grow the business and keep his marks up.

Today Ossendryver, 23, oversees a team of three employees while studying towards a BCom Economics degree at the University of the Witwatersrand. “We started at zero, but now our YouTube channel, Kruger Sightings, has had more than a billion views.” Ossendryver believes that youth gives you an edge in creating an online business. “You grow up with the internet, so you understand how it works and what drives people to share.”

Having generated a wealth of successful entrepreneurial alumni over the years, our schools are supportive of entrepreneurial teens. “I’ve come across only a couple of students running businesses in my time,” says King David High School Victory Park Principal, Andrew Baker. “I’d be supportive of initiatives as long as they didn’t interfere too much with the school day – and were legal, of course.”

Rebbetzin Natalie Altman, the principal of Girls High and head of kodesh and ethos at Yeshiva College Schools is also supportive. “Everything we teach at Yeshiva College is a reflection of how to live a creative and self-reliant life, and therefore the spirit of entrepreneurship and a strong sense of ambition is encouraged.”