Teens Turn a Love for Crafts Into a Business

Young entrepreneurs Aanchal and Pallavi Singhal of Pompom Depot at the Greater Mid-South Children’s Business Fair.

Fourteen-year-old, Aanchal and Pallavi Singhal knew they wanted to start a business but didn’t know what type. It wasn’t until their mother gave them a Pom Pom kit that they decided to turn their love for crafts into a creative business called Pompom Depot. The Singhal sisters use their creativity to make items like key chains, pencil toppers, bookmarks, earrings, and collectibles. 

At the beginning of their entrepreneur journey, they conducted garage sales to gain funds to purchase their yarn. They used money from their garage sales to buy a booth at the “Fair On The Square” in Collierville, TN. The additional sales allowed them to purchase other supplies. People also like the fact that they donate 10 percent of their proceeds to their local animal shelter.

“Even if people don’t buy our products, they will like us on Facebook and Instagram,” says Annachal.

So what are Pompom Depot’s hottest selling items? Well, that depends on the age group of the customers. Middle age customers usually gravitate toward the keychains or decorative items. Kids and young adults like the earrings, bookmarkers, and collectibles.

Pompom Depot Pencil Toppers

The Singhal sisters make sure they don’t allow their business to get in the way of their education. “Our goal is to basically do our homework and do maybe an hour working on our pom-poms,” says Annachal. They realize some weeks may be more challenging than others.  “If that didn’t happen due to extracurricular activities, we would use the weekdays for school work and the weekends catching up on our inventory for the next fair,” says Pallavi. 

Good Shepard Pharmacy sponsors Pompom Depot by purchasing yarn for them. The pharmacy company sells discounted medicine for the uninsured.

Aanchal and Pallavi encourage other youths to get into entrepreneurship by starting with something they enjoy doing. “Never hold back. Dream bigger than big”, says Aanchal. 

If you are not able to catch Pompom Depot at a local fair, customers can buy their products online at Pompom Depot.