While most teenagers have enough trouble negotiating puberty, these three are cutting deals, launching new ventures, creating new markets and showing what it takes to get ahead… from way behind. They went out and made it happen before anyone told them they couldn’t. And there isn’t a lemonade stand in sight! Enter the teentrepreneur.
JAMIE BIALKOWER AGE 19
JUMP STREET FILMS
"I launched Jump Street Films because I love movies. I’m also extremely interested in the business side of the industry. I was working at Village Cinemas for a number of years and developed a desire to gain ownership of a fiLm and be the chief decision maker on how it is distributed. That was what convinced me to go out on my own and launch my own film distribution company.
A lot of new film distribution companies have entered the market. I don’t think many of them are doing it effectively. A lot of them don’t support their films with the marketing effort required. They fail to utilise the resources and dedicate the time necessary to make their films work. Art house films require a large marketing effort to generate interest and compete with mainstream releases.
I flew to the Cannes Film Festival in May, where I managed to secure the Australian and New Zealand distribution rights for the film, The King, starring Gael Garcia Bernal from The Motorcycle Diaries. The whole experience has taught me the value of an effective marketing campaign and the importance of product positioning.
Cinema is such a dynamic market. Audiences have so many other entertainment options that can keep them away from movie theatres. It’s really about capturing their attention by marketing something original that will draw people away from their DVD players and plasma screen TV’s.
I think that one of the most difficult aspects of being a teenage entrepreneur is not being taken seriously. It’s hard work when you are competing with well established competitors with a lot of money. Also, there are some people out there who question my ability to make a film work. The biggest hurdle is getting agreements to have the film screened. My age didn’t really make a difference for the people with whom I had already built relationships during my time at Village Cinemas. But some people were surprised and a little unsure whether I could pull it off.
My advice: don’t let people say that it can’t be done because of your age. It really can be done. It just comes down to having a commercial mindset and backing yourself. "
AARON HORNLIMANN AGE 18
www.intazaar.com.au
"When I first started, it was very much just me. I now think that was a mistake. You really need to work with a group of people to get a business going, and while it’s my company, it’s a team. It’s our business.
I also enjoy the extra responsibility that comes with running a company. I like being able to work with people without being told what to do. I enjoy the freedom and independence. I wanted to be in command of my own destiny.
I’m definitely driven to achieve my goals. I’ve been in and around business and seen people being independent and not having to work for others. That’s what attracted me to becoming an entrepreneur. I enjoy working with my colleagues. That’s really been a highlight. We sit around in the office and bounce ideas around. That’s the part of my day that I enjoy most.
Intazaar is basically an SMS portal. People come to our website to send free SMSs. We display advertisements on the website. That is our revenue model.
We have a team of developers creating original advertising software. It’s really unique, in that we match the adverts to detailed demographic information. Rather than having a broader demographic breakdown, we look to specifics, from postcode to gender, occupation and income.
We have received a lot of support for the business. I think that my young age has attracted a lot of people to Intazaar. A lot of large companies have come on board. They love to help us out in whatever way they can, and I’m sure that can be attributed to my age."
BERNADETTE EDE AGE 15
EBONY, DETT & THE 2 TALL BLONDES
"I’m from a very arty family. Design everywhere. My mum designs and my brother is a budding artist. I was going to a party and had nothing to wear so I made myself up a skirt. I went to the op-shop and just embellished an op-shop skirt and got a lot of great comments. People loved it. I loved it. It was something new. I then started going to the op-shop more often and bought more skirts, embellished them and people started saying, ‘Wow, I’d like to buy these.’ So I just started selling to my friends and now it’s big. It just keeps getting bigger and better.
It’s been hard work – it has to be. But it’s also been a lot of fun. If you’re good at something, it’s great to just go for it. I found my design niche and went for it, and I’m glad I did. Even if you find something that you can excel at, you won’t get there unless you’re determined. You have to want it and push yourself every step of the way.
I don’t know if I was born an entrepreneur, but good support around you is a great help. It’s pretty hard being a teenager, trying to balance a social life, school and the business. My friends are very supportive, but it’s hard to find time to just go out and be a teenager.
I’m just about to open my first store, with my mum. At the moment I’m having fun. I’d love to be up there with the big names, but wherever it takes me, it takes me. But I’m having a load of fun in the meantime."
