By Corey Bennett
Though most students tend to struggle with school and homework. Not able to have an after school job let alone own or co-own a business. Many students actually are able to do this as an afterschool activity and I have decided to interview a couple of people to get their input on their business and what it is like to work while being a student at Benicia High.
The first person that I interviewed was Paris Wibben, who works with two businesses. Wibbens Ribbons, which she took over after her mom left it, and CustomCraftsbyParis which she started by herself . Her mother started Wibbens Ribbons in 2011, however around 2017 Paris took over her mothers business. She started the business by making bows for one of her sister’s friends and then started making them for softball and soccer teams. Paris would help her mother with the business till in 2019, when she started her own business where she sells her own items and items made from her mother’s business. For her personal business she makes custom sweatshirts, engraved ornaments, keychains, watchbands, and grad cap decorations. It usually costs
+ 15 dollars to get a sweatshirt and a little extra for materials. Prices vary based on the time the product takes to make. She usually gets a lot of orders around graduation and Christmas.
The next person is Victoria Caine, who owns the business Victorias Dream Co. She started her business in December of 2020, where it was just a hobby, and then evolved into finding joy in creating things for others. She makes many different items such as custom decals, tumblers, cups, apparel, signs, and during the holidays she makes holiday themed items. The things that Victoria makes range in prices depending on the size of the project. During the holidays she gets anywhere from 15 to 20 orders a week but on a regular basis she will get 0 to 5 orders a week.
The third person that I interviewed was Molly Seret, who owns a Depop business where she sells clothes. She started on Depop because she had a lot of clothes that didn’t fit anymore or they just simply didn’t wear them anymore. She has been in this business for 2 months now and she charges depending on the piece. For example, if a piece is more popular or trendy it will cost more than an article of clothing that isn’t or is easier to get. She tends to get around 2 orders a week. When asked what it is like to work both school and business she had this to say:
“I have a shortened schedule so it is easy for me to balance both. Selling on Depop is easy because it is all on my phone so even when I’m at school I can still list things. It’s very flexible because the only thing I need to be home for is to take pictures of the clothes and package them.”
The final person that I interviewed was Dillon Morris, who owns North Bay Hauling. He started his business with a jeep and a small trailer. After a while he was able to move up to a truck and a bigger trailer. He has had this business for four and a half months. Using his truck and trailer he does junk removal and charges 250 dollars for a truck and 500 dollars for truck and trailer. Dillon gets anywhere from 1 to 8 orders a week. When asked what it is like to work both school and business he had this to say:
“I’d say that the hardest thing is trying to get a job in after school because of the dump closing at 4 and I get out at 1 so I have to get my truck and hook it up to the trailer and then go to the address which usually takes about an hour and a half so that’s the hardest thing and getting rest is a struggle because I’m always either thinking about money, the gym, or school.”
beniciapaw.com 