{"id":9454,"date":"2018-04-30T15:37:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-30T19:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/?p=9454"},"modified":"2018-06-07T13:32:04","modified_gmt":"2018-06-07T17:32:04","slug":"if-not-us-who-how-this-11-year-old-inspires-the-next-generation-of-young-entrepreneurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/if-not-us-who-how-this-11-year-old-inspires-the-next-generation-of-young-entrepreneurs\/","title":{"rendered":"If not us, who? How this 11 year old inspires the next generation of young entrepreneurs"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.106″ src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/series_explainer.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.92″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|37.9062px|0px” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0px|0px|18.9531px|0px” custom_margin=”10px|||” _builder_version=”3.0.92″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 1″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gabby_PW1.jpg”]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 1″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Gabby Goodwin shows one of her Gabby Bows before giving a tutorial on how to use them.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 2″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gabby_PW2.jpg”]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 2″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Gabby Goodwin says her Gabby Bows solves the age-old problem of disappearing hair barrettes because they are patented with a double face, double-snap barrette.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 3″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gabby_PW3.jpg”]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 3″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Gabby Goodwin says the first step in using Gabby Bows \u00a0is to open the barrette and place your hair in it, while wrapping it around the center strip of the clip.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 4″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gabby_PW4.jpg”]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 4″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Gabby Goodwin says once you’ve wrapped the hair, snap one end of the bow closed at a time.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”News Story” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Rooted in style<\/b><\/h3>\n

Hair can be curled. It can also be straightened, or pressed, braided, crimped, cornrowed and waved. Hair reveals history, acting as a signifier for different time periods. <\/span><\/p>\n

For African-American women, hair goes deeper than history. As Ayana Byrd and Lori Tharps note <\/span>Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America<\/span><\/i>, the style of braids tells a much more complicated story. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom day one, Black children are indoctrinated into the intricate culture of hair,\u201d writes Byrd and Tharps.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cLearning the language of Black hair culture goes hand in hand with understanding the technology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuing, the pair writes, \u201cthe original tool of Black hair culture has to be the ancient hand-carved African comb.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As new tools were created to manipulate hair, the vocabulary expanded. \u201cOther equipment can be grouped according to function in the following categories: straighteners, styling tools, moisturizers, pomade, and accessories.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing the tools and understanding the language of Black hair culture doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re in the club yet, according to Byrd and Tharps. \u201cCertain rituals and rites of passage must also be experienced.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rites of passage<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cLittle Black girls usually get their hair washed anywhere from once a week to once a month, and then it must be arranged into some sort of style or it will be nearly impossible to manage until the next washing,\u201d the authors note.<\/span><\/p>\n

For many people, \u201cmemories of early hair-care rituals are unforgettabl. Regardless of the look, \u201cthe hair has to be combed out, a small section at a time, and blow-drying is often necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabby Goodwin and her mother, Rozalynn, of Columbia wanted to change that hair care routine and make it a little bit easier. For them, like so many others, the hairstyle was way too hard to maintain. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom used to drop me off at school after spending hours on my hair, only to pick me up later with half the bows missing,\u201d said Gabby. <\/span><\/p>\n

The start of something big<\/b><\/h3>\n

Surrounded by kids who are visiting EdVenture Children\u2019s Museum in downtown Columbia during spring break, 11-year-old Gabby Goodwin arrived for a different reason entirely.\u00a0<\/span>She had spent most of her break traveling and working on projects for her business, something most other pre-teens aren\u2019t doing. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great experience to be an entrepreneur,\u201d Gabby said. \u201cI get to meet new people and see new things.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

As the face of <\/span>Gabby Bows<\/span><\/a>, a company she started with her mom six years ago, Gabby has had the opportunity to build a brand while still attending school as a straight-A student. <\/span><\/p>\n

Gabby Bows took off after Rozalyn Goodwin vented on Twitter about barrettes that never stayed in her daughter\u2019s braided hair. As it turns out, she wasn\u2019t the only parent looking for an answer to this exasperating problem. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was always playing outside, so when I got home, my braids and barrettes would be a mess,\u201d Gabby said. She recalls her mom and grandma always fixing her hair; the problem was never-ending. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandma\u2019s pet peeve was when my bows weren\u2019t positioned right, so you could see the hair and not the barrette,\u201d said Gabby. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s where the idea for the Double-Face, Double-Snap barrette came to fruition. With two faces, the design of Gabby bows ensures that no matter what activity you\u2019re doing, the bow will always stay in place and look the way it should. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since then, the duo has been featured in national and local media outlets, including <\/span>The Washington Post<\/span><\/i> and the NBC Today show.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt probably took about two years to make the products,\u201d Gabby said. \u201cNow we fill online orders in all 50 states and eight countries.\u201d Edventure is one of 57 locations across 16 states. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Living the dream<\/b><\/h3>\n

As Gabby arrived with her mom and brother, Michael, they stopped in the gift shop to see the set-up of Gabby Bows barrettes. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m four years in the business, so it\u2019s just natural now,\u201d said Gabby, smiling ear to ear with the confidence of someone well beyond her age. \u201cNow, what a five-year-old or a seven-year-old was doing is now an 11-year-old living her dream.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not easy to balance it all, though. Gabby\u2019s day starts around 6:30 a.m. so she has time to get ready for school at 7:30 a.m. \u201cI get home around 3 p.m. and start doing my homework,\u201d Gabby said. \u201cMy mom usually comes home a little bit later. That\u2019s when we fill orders for the business.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabby is in the gifted program at school, which she credits for her high standards. \u201cIt\u2019s strict work, so I have to make sure I balance my schedule to get everything done,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cThe teachers expect higher performance than last year because we\u2019re in fifth grade.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, despite all of the stresses of maintaining her grades and contributing to the family business, Gabby still manages to have fun. \u201cI do tap and ballet, but sometimes I like to make up my own dances and dance with my friends.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

As she talked about her friends, Gabby laughed recalling those dance routines. Even now, as her laugh filled up the cafeteria at Edventure, it\u2019s hard to remember that Gabby is only 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost as quickly as she started laughing, she stopped and begins to talk about her hopes for the future, just in case becoming a professional dancer doesn\u2019t work out. <\/span><\/p>\n

Passing it forward<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cI just ran into a customer when I was in Washington, D.C.,\u201d Gabby said. \u201cThat happens all the time, but I always love meeting new customers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For Gabby, who started Gabby Bows to help girls like her who were losing their barrettes and getting into trouble, it\u2019s always been about her customers. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t give up on other people,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cMy classmates and customers look up to me, so I don\u2019t want to give up on them now.\u201d In fact, one of the things Gabby is most passionate about is helping the next generation of young entrepreneurs, a sentiment that seems to start within the family.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabby turned around with a toothy grin after helping her younger brother with his work. From the table we\u2019re sitting at, it\u2019s clear how much he looks up to Gabby. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe wants to start a business too, but with books. He\u2019s always watched and learned from me,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cIt\u2019s great to see him go out there and go after his dreams too.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Although Gabby makes it look fun, it\u2019s not easy starting a business, which Gabby\u2019s learned from experience. \u201cI always say \u2018no\u2019 is just an abbreviation for ‘next opportunity,’\u201d said Gabby. \u201cThat\u2019s why my biggest piece of advice is to never give up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Staying true to that was harder at the beginning for Gabby, who considers herself an introvert. \u201cIn our first commercial, I kept crying because I was so nervous. I had this necklace on, and if you watch the video, I held onto it the whole time. Now, I talk to people all around the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s that resilient mindset that keeps Gabby going when she could\u2019ve easily called it quits. \u201cA lot of people are scared to follow their dreams because they don\u2019t want to fail,\u201d \u00a0Gabby said. \u201cI always say to just follow your dreams and don\u2019t lose hope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to grow the business with my future daughters,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

For her, this is just the beginning. <\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.91″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” prev_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Top Image” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/gabby_bottom.jpg”]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If Not Us, Who? is a series featuring women who are igniting change locally and nationally in politics, social activism, education and business. The goal of the series is to not only highlight the work they are doing, but educate the community on issues and movements happening around them. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":9456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"3.0.91\" custom_padding=\"0px|0px|0px|0px\" next_background_color=\"#000000\"][et_pb_row custom_padding=\"0px|0px|0px|0px\" _builder_version=\"3.0.47\" background_size=\"initial\" background_position=\"top_left\" background_repeat=\"repeat\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\"][et_pb_image admin_label=\"Top Image\" _builder_version=\"3.0.98\" show_in_lightbox=\"off\" url_new_window=\"off\" use_overlay=\"off\" always_center_on_mobile=\"on\" force_fullwidth=\"off\" show_bottom_space=\"on\"]<\/p>

[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"3.0.92\" custom_padding=\"2px|0px|37.9062px|0px\" prev_background_color=\"#000000\"][et_pb_row custom_padding=\"0px|0px|18.9531px|0px\" custom_margin=\"10px|||\" _builder_version=\"3.0.92\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\"][et_pb_image admin_label=\"Image 1\" show_in_lightbox=\"on\" show_bottom_space=\"off\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" custom_margin=\"||2px|\" custom_padding=\"|||\" animation_style=\"slide\" box_shadow_style=\"preset2\" box_shadow_horizontal=\"4px\" box_shadow_vertical=\"4px\" url_new_window=\"off\" use_overlay=\"off\" always_center_on_mobile=\"on\" force_fullwidth=\"off\" src=\"http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gabby_PW1.jpg\"]<\/p>

[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Caption 1\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" text_font=\"|600|||||||\" text_font_size=\"12px\" text_line_height=\"1.4em\" custom_margin=\"8px|||2px\" custom_padding=\"|||\" background_layout=\"light\"]<\/p>

Gabby showing one of the colors of Gabby Bows before giving a tutorial on how to use them.\u00a0<\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=\"Image 2\" show_in_lightbox=\"on\" show_bottom_space=\"off\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" custom_margin=\"||2px|\" custom_padding=\"|||\" animation_style=\"slide\" box_shadow_style=\"preset2\" box_shadow_horizontal=\"4px\" box_shadow_vertical=\"4px\" url_new_window=\"off\" use_overlay=\"off\" always_center_on_mobile=\"on\" force_fullwidth=\"off\" src=\"http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gabby_PW2.jpg\"]<\/p>

[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Caption 2\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" text_font=\"|600|||||||\" text_font_size=\"12px\" text_line_height=\"1.4em\" custom_margin=\"8px|||2px\" custom_padding=\"|||\" background_layout=\"light\"]<\/p>

Gabby Bows solves the age old problem of disappearing hair barrettes, with their patented double face-double snap barrette.<\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=\"Image 3\" show_in_lightbox=\"on\" show_bottom_space=\"off\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" custom_margin=\"||2px|\" custom_padding=\"|||\" animation_style=\"slide\" box_shadow_style=\"preset2\" box_shadow_horizontal=\"4px\" box_shadow_vertical=\"4px\" url_new_window=\"off\" use_overlay=\"off\" always_center_on_mobile=\"on\" force_fullwidth=\"off\" src=\"http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gabby_PW3.jpg\"]<\/p>

[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Caption 3\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" text_font=\"|600|||||||\" text_font_size=\"12px\" text_line_height=\"1.4em\" custom_margin=\"8px|||2px\" custom_padding=\"|||\" background_layout=\"light\"]<\/p>

Gabby says the first step is to open the barrette and place your hair in it, while wrapping it around the center strip of the clip.\u00a0<\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=\"Image 4\" show_in_lightbox=\"on\" show_bottom_space=\"off\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" custom_margin=\"||2px|\" custom_padding=\"|||\" animation_style=\"slide\" box_shadow_style=\"preset2\" box_shadow_horizontal=\"4px\" box_shadow_vertical=\"4px\" url_new_window=\"off\" use_overlay=\"off\" always_center_on_mobile=\"on\" force_fullwidth=\"off\" src=\"http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gabby_PW4.jpg\"]<\/p>

[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Caption 4\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" text_font=\"|600|||||||\" text_font_size=\"12px\" text_line_height=\"1.4em\" custom_margin=\"8px|||2px\" custom_padding=\"|||\" background_layout=\"light\"]<\/p>

Once you've wrapped the hair, snap one end of the bow closed at a time.\u00a0<\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"2_3\"][et_pb_text admin_label=\"News Story\" _builder_version=\"3.0.106\" custom_margin=\"0px||0px|\" background_layout=\"light\"]<\/p>

If Not Us, Who?<\/i><\/b> is a series featuring women who are igniting change locally and nationally in politics, social activism, education and business. The goal of the series is to not only highlight the work they are doing, but educate the community on issues and movements happening around them. Here are the stories of how these women became a relentless force of empowerment and what they are doing to continue to bring change.<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Rooted in style<\/b><\/h3>

Hair can be curled. It can also be straightened, or pressed, braided, crimped, cornrowed and waved. Subsequently, hair oftentimes tells the story of history, acting as a signifier for different time periods. <\/span><\/p>

For African-American women, hair goes deeper than just history, though. As Ayana Byrd and Lori Tharps note in the book they co-authored, <\/span>Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America<\/span><\/i>, the style of braids tells a much more complicated story. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cFrom day one, Black children are indoctrinated into the intricate culture of hair,\u201d writes Byrd and Tharps. Namely, the vocabulary that accompanies different styles or types of hair and the tools that are used to achieve them.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cLearning the language of Black hair culture goes hand in hand with understanding the technology.\u201d Continuing, the pair writes, \u201cthe original tool of Black hair culture has to be the ancient hand-carved African comb.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

However, as new tools are created to manipulate hair, the vocabulary expands. \u201cOther equipment can be grouped according to function in the following categories: straighteners, styling tools, moisturizers, pomade, and accessories.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Knowing the tools and understanding the language of Black hair culture doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re in the club yet, according to Byrn and Lori. \u201cCertain rituals and rites of passage must also be experienced.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Rites of passage<\/b><\/h3>

\u201cLittle Black girls usually get their hair washed anywhere from once a week to once a month, and then it must be arranged into some sort of style or it will be nearly impossible to manage until the next washing,\u201d writes Byrn and Lori.<\/span><\/p>

For many people, \u201cmemories of early hair-care rituals are unforgettable,\u201d because regardless of the look, \u201cthe hair has to be combed out, a small section at a time, and blow-drying is often necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Columbia locals Gabby Goodwin and her mom, Rozalynn, wanted to change that hair care routine and make it a little bit easier.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy mom used to drop me off at school after spending hours on my hair, only to pick me up later with half the bows missing,\u201d said Gabby. <\/span><\/p>

The start of something big<\/b><\/h3>

Surrounded by kids who are visiting EdVenture Children\u2019s Museum in downtown Columbia during their spring break for fun, 11 year old Gabby Goodwin arrives for a different reason entirely.<\/span><\/p>

She had spent most of her break traveling and working on projects for her business, something most other 11 year-olds aren\u2019t doing. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s a great experience to be an entrepreneur,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cI get to meet new people and see new things.\u201d <\/span><\/p>

As the face of <\/span>Gabby Bows<\/span><\/a>, a company she started with her mom, Rozalynn, six years ago, Gabby has had the opportunity to build a brand while still attending school as a straight-A student. <\/span><\/p>

Gabby Bows took off after Rozalynn sent a tweet venting about barrettes that never stayed in her daughter\u2019s hair. As it turns out, she wasn\u2019t the only parent looking for an answer to this exasperating problem. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cI was always playing outside, so when I got home, my braids and barrettes would be a mess,\u201d said Gabby. She recalls her mom and grandma always fixing her hair; the problem was never-ending. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy grandma\u2019s pet peeve was when my bows weren\u2019t positioned right, so you could see the hair and not the barrette,\u201d said Gabby. <\/span><\/p>

That\u2019s where the idea for the Double-Face, Double-Snap barrette came to fruition. With two faces, the design of Gabby bows ensures that no matter what activity you\u2019re doing, the bow will always stay in place and look the way it should. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Since then, the duo has been featured in both national and local media outlets, like <\/span>The Washington Post<\/span><\/i> the TODAY show.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt probably took about two years to make the products,\u201d Gabby said. \u201cNow we fill online orders in all 50 states and eight countries.\u201d Edventure is one of 57 other store locations of Gabby Bows across 16 states. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Living the dream<\/b><\/h3>

As Gabby arrived with her mom and brother, Michael, they stopped in the gift shop to see the set-up of Gabby Bows barrettes. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m four years in the business, so it\u2019s just natural now,\u201d said Gabby smiling ear to ear with the confidence of someone well beyond her age. \u201cNow, what a five year old or seven year old was doing is now an 11 year old living her dream.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

It\u2019s not easy to balance it all, though. Gabby\u2019s day starts around 6:30 a.m. so she has time to get ready before school at 7:30. \u201cI get home around 3 p.m. and start doing my homework,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cMy mom usually comes home a little bit later. That\u2019s when we fill orders for the business.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Gabby is in the gifted program at school, which she credits for her high standards. \u201cIt\u2019s strict work, so I have to make sure I balance my schedule to get everything done,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cThe teachers expect higher performance than last year because we\u2019re in fifth grade.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

However, despite all of the stresses of maintaining her grades and contributing to the family business, Gabby still manages to have fun. \u201cI do tap and ballet, but sometimes I like to make up my own dances and dance with my friends.\u201d <\/span><\/p>

As she talks about her friends, Gabby laughs recalling those dance routines. Even now, as her laugh fills up the cafeteria at Edventure, it\u2019s hard to remember that Gabby is only 11.<\/span><\/p>

Almost as quickly as she started laughing, she stopped and begins to talk about her hopes for the future, just in case becoming a professional dancer doesn\u2019t work out. <\/span><\/p>

Passing it forward<\/b><\/h3>

\u201cI just ran into a customer when I was in Washington, D.C.,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cThat happens all the time, but I always love meeting new customers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

For Gabby, who started Gabby Bows to help girls like her who were losing their barretts and getting into trouble, it\u2019s always been about her customers. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cI won\u2019t give up on other people,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cMy classmates and customers look up to me, so I don\u2019t want to give up on them now.\u201d In fact, one of the things Gabby is most passionate about is helping the next generation of young entrepreneurs, a sentient that seems to start within the family.<\/span><\/p>

Gabby turned around with a toothy grin after helping her younger brother with his work. From the table we\u2019re sitting at, it\u2019s clear how much he looks up to Gabby. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cHe wants to start a business too, but with books. He\u2019s always watched and learned from me,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cIt\u2019s great to see him go out there and go after his dreams too.\u201d <\/span><\/p>

Although Gabby makes it look fun, it\u2019s not easy starting a business, which Gabby\u2019s learned from experience. \u201cI always say \u2018no\u2019 is just an abbreviation for next opportunity,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cThat\u2019s why my biggest piece of advice is to never give up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Staying true to that was harder at the beginning for Gabby, who considers herself an introvert. \u201cIn our first commercial, I kept crying because I was so nervous,\u201d said Gabby. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cI had this necklace on, and if you watch the video, I held onto it the whole time,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cNow, I talk to people all around the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

It\u2019s that resilient mindset that keeps Gabby going, when she could\u2019ve easily called it quits. \u201cA lot of people are scared to follow their dreams because they don\u2019t want to fail,\u201d said Gabby. \u201cI always say to just follow your dreams and don\u2019t lose hope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

I can\u2019t help but think back to what I was doing at 11 years old while talking to Gabby. Although I can\u2019t remember for sure, I can say with certainty that I definitely wasn\u2019t going on national talk shows or meeting with reporters about my own business. And, I definitely wasn\u2019t inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs from a table inside EdVenture. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cI want to grow the business with my future daughters,\u201d said Gabby. For her, this is just the beginning. <\/span><\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9454"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9454"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10084,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9454\/revisions\/10084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}