Life & Work with Ethan Hoffman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ethan Hoffman.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Ever since I was five years old I’d wanted to have something I could sell, but I never had anything tangible to make that desire a reality. That changed four years ago, at the age of nine, when I started selling crayons in the shapes of hearts for Valentine’s Day.

I enjoyed that experience so much that the following fall when I saw Christmas molds at the store, I knew I wanted to start growing the business. Over that holiday season, I came up with the Mold It business name and knew I wanted to keep expanding into other holidays. Fast forward to three years later, and I now offer crayons for every holiday.

I’ve also done custom party favors and have participated in two craft shows for the first time this past fall. My product line continues to grow and is not limited to holidays anymore. I have made crayons for the local schools, personalized names, and lots of other fun things such as unicorns, flowers, mermaids, space, dinosaurs, Legos, Star Wars, Spider-Man, and many more.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle is trying to juggle the amount of time it takes to make the product versus still being a kid and having to balance school and other extracurricular activities.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, I am in the sixth grade. I’ve always had a very creative and imaginative side to me. I have taken numerous art classes when I was younger and enjoy doing lots of different types of crafts at home.

I am most proud of the fact that I am only 12 years old and I have been given this opportunity with the support of my family to be able to achieve what others may only dream about. My customers and the community have also been very supportive of my small business.

I think what sets me apart from others is that I have a product that no one else is currently doing in my area and I have a wide variety of products at this time.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Since I began my business four years ago, my parents have really tried hard to teach me entrepreneurship skills with running this business. I am responsible for buying all my own supplies. After each holiday or show, I put a portion of my profits into my savings account, another portion is donated to a charity of my choice and then with what is left over, I can spend it as I choose and/or reinvest it back into the business. It’s been a really good lesson about hardwork, dedication, and philanthropy.

Contact Info:

• Email: Moldit.TN@gmail.com