HOBACHI ONLINE DISTRIBUTION

By Tessa Hill

     For many students, the hours after school are often filled with clubs, extra-curriculars, and homework—but for Emma Wuysang, Peyton Wall, and Asher Lawson, seniors at Redlands High School, they entail much more: running their own small businesses centered around clothing.

     Emma, president of Key Club and Social Media Manager for Chamber Singers, started her business—“Holycholic”—during the summer break of 2022. “I discovered my passion for clothing when I was very young, and I knew I wanted to begin a business since my freshman year,” she says. “It just took a little bit of time to get accustomed to school and gain the courage to actually begin.” While she initially wanted to sell painted Hydro Flasks while they were trending, she hesitated before opening. Three years later, she “finally just clicked a few buttons and [it] became official.” All of her involvement in school activities aligns with her interests and has helped her build her skill set, aiding in her independence.

      At a similar time, during the end of their junior years, Peyton and Asher seeked a way to empty their closets for a profit. They had been introduced to thrifting by Asher’s cousin years ago but “finally decided to take the opportunity to turn it into a business,” says Peyton.

Currently, Emma sells hand-painted clothing pieces, although she plans to sell her own pieces of clothing in the future. For her, a normal day is centered around one commission or sketch; she takes in a commission for an article of clothing and paints whatever her client requests onto the clothing. She usually infuses her own art style and twists into the creation.

With multiple clients at once, Emma knows to focus on one fully before moving on to the next. “I often make lists and use calendars to make sure that I have everything and also set goals,” she says, “[because] my brain can only hold so much information, so the notes app is my best friend.”  A challenge for her arises when working with clients—she does not know whether they will be satisfied with the product and its pricing. “Fully transparent, I love when my clients get all [excited] for their piece, especially if they give me the freedom for their clothing,” says Emma.

     Utilizing Instagram aided both Emma and Peyton and Asher in fostering growth for their businesses. Emma found success with posts and giveaways, and Peyton and Asher watched social media for upcoming style trends. Building an online presence for businesses can prove a challenge, “but we used TikTok, Insta Reels, and YouTube Shorts to establish ourselves,” Peyton says. “We have to keep up with the trends so that we match our inventory with what the people want and have content that has the potential to trend.” A normal day for Peyton and Asher consists of updating customers on their shipping statuses and coming up with content ideas, along with trying to transition their business to be more online.

     “Your consumer base is still very small so you have to work hard to make sales,” says Peyton. “Seeing the sales come through after putting the hours in makes it feel completely worth it.” They explain that, to avoid burnout, you must take breaks from running your business. “It has taught us how to manage time better while we’re balancing the responsibilities of running a business, going to school, and all of our personal hobbies.”

Emma, by owning and managing her business, was able to “[overcome] a variety of issues with confidence,” she says. “I would hold the paintbrush for almost thirty minutes before starting my first few commissions because I feared to make the wrong stroke or shade.” She now knows that she cannot erase the paint once she begins, so what she has done is what she is able to work with. As time went on, she accepted the fact that no mistake in painting is bad; it becomes fixable when looked at through a new lens.

      “I learned that there are people in the world that will not always be content with what you do, and or respectful. It has taught me that silence is always the best reaction for people who lack proper etiquette,” Emma says. She repeats that there are only so many factors under her control, so the distress she would sometimes experience during completing commissions would be temporary.

Owning a small business made Emma more conscious about how fast money can come and go depending on how she budgets her items—she made sure to set an amount of money to save every month, contributing to her savings and good habits.

      “I think people need to realize that small businesses have the potential to become big one day. Depending on the determination and self motivation of the owner, anything can be possible,” Emma says. She also recognized that people “cannot always achieve things by just sitting there. The hardest step in everything is starting,” she says. “We work really hard, and managing a small business is so overwhelming at times.”

Peyton, Asher, and Emma have put in countless hours to opening and sustaining both of their creative small businesses, delivering unique, trendy—and, in Emma’s case, artistic—clothes. Their efforts to serve their customers as well as they can and ensure satisfaction should not go unnoticed. As Peyton says, “Every sale has a greater impact when you shop small.”