A 14-year-old girl from Indiana, United States, who started a small business to pay for a school trip has gained more than 30,000 social media followers and over eight million online views in less than a month.Lexi Long, an eighth-grade student at Schmucker Middle School, began selling slime and squishy toys on October 1, to raise money for a class visit to Washington, DC, WNDU reported. She collected the required amount within nine days but continued selling her creations as more people began showing interest in her products.For Lexi, the idea came from something she had enjoyed since childhood. She liked making things with her hands, particularly slime and other craft items. When she needed money for the school trip, she decided to use that interest to earn it herself.The trip was something she had heard about for years. Students at her school knew that eighth graders had an opportunity to visit Washington, DC, and Lexi wanted to be part of it and pay for it herself.Speaking to local television station WNDU, Lexi explained why the trip mattered to her. “People talk about this in elementary school, like ‘Eighth grade you get to go and all that stuff,'” she said. “So, I really wanted to get to go,” she added.
Lexi started selling handmade items at age four
Although her latest business has attracted considerable attention, Lexi was already familiar with making and selling things.When she was four, she wanted to travel to Chicago and buy an American Girl doll. To raise money, she began creating accessories for the dolls and selling them.That early experience was similar to what she did this October. Both times, she had a trip in mind and decided to earn money by making something herself. “I guess I kind of start businesses when I have a trip to go on,” she told WNDU.Her mother, Jennifer Long, said Lexi had always shown an interest in working towards the things she wanted. “A lot of kids, in the teen years, just kind of want things given to them. And Lexi’s never been that kind of kid,” Jennifer said. “She’s always been a go-getter,” she added.This time, Lexi chose slime and squishy toys because they were already among her favourite activities. She had played with slime from a young age and enjoyed experimenting with craft projects.“I just think it’s a fun way to express yourself. I think that doing crafts and making stuff is really fun,” she said.
School trip target achieved in just nine days
Lexi officially began her business on October 1. Her first priority was to earn enough money for the Washington trip, and she started taking her products to sales events.She did not have to wait long to reach her target. At her second event, just nine days after starting the business, she had raised the amount needed for the visit.However, she decided to continue selling rather than stop after meeting her original goal. Her products began appearing at community events and local businesses, bringing her into contact with more customers. One of the places where she sells her creations is Urban Swirl & Scoop, a self-service frozen yoghurt shop.The shop’s owner, Chrissy Harper, saw a connection between the way customers served themselves frozen yoghurt and the activity offered through Lexi’s products. “We are a self-serve frozen yogurt place, so I thought a self-serve squishy place would be a win-win,” Harper told WNDU.The products have attracted customers of different ages. Harper recalled that even football players from the University of Notre Dame had taken part in making squishies at the shop.“We even had the Notre Dame football players in here- big old guys, over at this bar making squishies. So, it’s for any age,” she said.
Videos of products get eight million views
While Lexi was meeting customers at local events, her business was also gaining attention on social media. She created a Facebook page for Slime & Squish on October 1. By October 24, the page had attracted more than 21,000 followers, while videos of her products had received over six million combined views.That same day, she displayed her creations at the Century Center in South Bend, Indiana, giving visitors another opportunity to see what she was selling.The online audience continued to grow over the following days. By October 30, Lexi had crossed 30,000 followers and eight million views.In an earlier interview with the station, Lexi said she enjoyed being able to share her interest in crafts with others. “I have always played with slime since I was a little kid and I love doing crafts stuff like that,” she said. “So being able to like share what I like to do with everybody else is really nice, and I really enjoy doing it,” she added.
What Lexi hopes other children will learn
Having started her first small venture at four and another at 14, Lexi now wants other young people to feel confident about trying their own ideas. “Even if you think people won’t like it, I guarantee you there’s someone out there that will like what you do,” she said.She also encouraged children not to give up on something simply because it appears difficult. “Whatever you put your mind to, you can do it. Even if you think you can’t, you really can,” she said.
