NAME: Abe Harris
BUSINESS: Bee
LOCATION: Raleigh, N.C.
WEBSITE: N/A
Abe Harris and his family raise bees at their home, and he has turned that into a sweet opportunity. The 8-year-old resident of Raleigh, NC, has a business – simply called Bee – that includes products made from honey and beeswax.
The youngster has concocted (with some adult help) several food products such as jams, jellies, food wraps and soda.
The food wraps have intriguing ingredients, such as beeswax and jojoba oil. The soda comes in flavors you would expect – ginger ale and root beer – but then there’s also kudzu.
At the Children’s Business Fair on Oct. 6 in Raleigh, he was doing pretty good business. Reasonably priced at $2 a bottle, the products were practically begging visitors to try them. And if you weren’t hungry, Abe was also selling lip balm – made with beeswax, of course – for only $3.
When a visitor asked what was in the soda, Abe was initially glad to let the world know. “The ginger ale has ginger, water…,” the youngster began before being interrupted by his mother, Beth. “Maybe you’d better keep the ingredients a secret for now,” she said.
Abe and his mom would only reveal that the soda was sweetened with honey.
Abe may have a thing or two to learn about strategy, but he seems to already know a lot about productivity and product diversification. Besides the food products, the youngster sells a variety of trinkets under his other business, Abe’s Fantastic Comic Crafts. The products, which had a superhero theme, include bookmarks, pendants and coasters.
One day, Abe may be a successful businessman; for now, just call him a busy bee.
