Brainard. Brandon Eberts barely has enough hours in the week and day to handle all of his responsibilities and work.
A sophomore at Brainerd High School, Brandon worked at Great River Door after school. On non-swimming days, Lakeland and Woodsmith are dedicated weekends. The special thing about the final project is that Brandon can call it his own. Last summer, when he was just 14 years old, Kishore started his own lumber business.
"It's a little confusing sometimes," Brandon said during a Sept. 30 interview. - But usually I can handle it.
Now that Brendan turned 16 last week, he's busier than ever making cutting boards, banners, bed boards and other items for his customers.
He hopes to expand his product range by buying more equipment to restock saws, laser engravers, lathes, joiners, gauges and grinders.
"I like to do large custom orders, like coffee tables, dining tables, nightstands, custom furniture, but then make them one-of-a-kind," he says.
Having recently won money in a national business competition, Brandon is well on his way.
Hosted by the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, the Minnesota Cup is a public-private partnership that supports entrepreneurs. The annual competition connects those starting their own business with training opportunities, mentors and support to start and grow their business.
Last summer, Brandon entered the junior division of the MN Cup and found himself creating business plans and presentations, creating videos and talking about his brand. After months of work and presentations, the teenager finished second, winning $5,000 to invest in Lakeland Woodsmith.
"It's really going to get me out of it," Brandon said, since his busy schedule of school, work and extracurriculars doesn't allow him to invest as much time and money into his work as he'd like.
But his work at the Great River Door in Brainerd, along with other community connections, are part of what makes Woodsmith's Lakeland possible.
Brent Manley, owner of Great River Door, and Chris Smith of Minnesota Makerspace in Brainerd offered advice on topics such as pricing and marketing, as well as sources of knowledge in areas such as laser engraving. The companies give him more workspace and equipment that he can use when needed.
"He just has a passion and drive to get things done," Manley said. "He's always looking for new ideas."
But Brandon's first teacher was someone much closer to home.
"I started with my grandfather. "He bought me a bunch of tools and we started making different things together - deer stands, banners, shelves and stuff."
He then discovered science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses in high school and developed STEM skills. One of the classes really interested him when he learned how to use a laser engraving machine and numerical control while working with wood.
"That's when I realized it might be useful because we put up a sign — a Minnesota sign — and some people offered me a few hundred dollars for it," Brandon said. "So I thought, 'Oh, I can start doing this for money.'"
The move made his parents a little hesitant at first, but now Matt and Deb Eberts are very proud of their son.
"When he sets his mind to something, he runs," Matt said. "And I'm really lucky that he decided to focus on the positive."
His son was always a big-minded child, unable to think about the small. Therefore, as soon as a teenager has a business idea, all the work falls on him.
I said, “Look, if you want to do this, that's great. You know, we'll help as much as we can, but it's you. It's your job and you have to learn it. You should do this research. When you're selling something, you have to work hard if you want it, Matt said.
And Brandon did just that.
By connecting with local business owners, drawing inspiration from past mentors, and relying on his grandfather's wealth of knowledge and the support of his parents, Brendan built his business.
"People have been incredibly generous in acknowledging his excitement and using it in a healthy way," says Matt.
Brandon is also grateful for the support, knowing his success wouldn't have been possible without it, and he encourages other kids to follow the same path.
"You have to find someone who knows what they're doing — a mentor or an employer, a family member — someone who has experience doing it, and just talk to them," Brandon says.
Brandon Lakeland Woodsmith's website is a testament to this guide, complete with photos of ready-made and custom-made cutting boards, serving boards, sausage boards, banners and luggage tags, made with the care and precision customers expect. professional
And if the product isn't what Brandon envisioned, there's a good chance it'll end up in his parents' or grandparents' house, a stark reminder of what hard work, determination and a little motivation can accomplish.
Theresa Bourke can be reached at Theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or by phone at 88-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa .
