BY MIRA THAKKAR*
When it comes to starting a business, many people think of creating one that meets customer demand or pursuing an idea that might be the most profitable. For 17-year-old entrepreneur Smayana Peddu, her business stemmed from an innate passion she wished to share with the world.
She started her jewelry-making business, Crafted By Smine, during COVID-19 as more of a hobby than something to sell. As her passion for it grew, she decided to scale it into a business with the help of her family.
“I slowly started working with my mom, and I realized that I really loved doing it,” Peddu said. “It’s super calming because it’s a repetitive process that ends up becoming a finished product that I sell.”
Peddu started her business after being inspired by others who shared their work on social media platforms such as Pinterest. Now, she uses social media to promote her new jewelry and reach her audience. But Peddu has learned that an even more powerful way to promote her products is through in-person marketing.
“I mostly market my products through social media, but last time I did an expo and my friends and family were some of my biggest supporters,” Peddu explained. “People on the street will be like, ‘I love your earrings,’ and I’ll say, ‘Yeah, I made this!’”
The expo Peddu is referring to is the Forsyth County Student Market, which was hosted last April. The event aimed to give student entrepreneurs a place to show off their businesses while bringing the community together. Support from the community helps student entrepreneurs market their products and also learn valuable skills on how to run their businesses.
“After I started my business, I got to learn about all kinds of stuff such as Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, marketing, and how to think outside the box to allow more people into my market,” Peddu emphasized.
Peddu has learned a lot about the jewelry-making process through her business as well. Especially since the art of handcrafted jewelry, excluding simple friendship bracelets, is not a popular skill among her peers.
“I’ve worked with different materials, a bunch of different kinds of beads, and different styles,” Peddu stated. “I’m working on some new projects, and I especially want to see if I can do a Senior Collection since I’m going to be a senior myself.”
Peddu recently launched Class of 2027 earrings for incoming seniors to wear at school events or even in yearbook photos. Her constant passion for creating new products helps her stay motivated and keeps her customers engaged. Through her hard work, her business has grown, and she hopes that other students can develop their passions and soft skills by becoming entrepreneurs.
“If there’s something you’re really proud of, whether that be like me with jewelry making or whether that be crocheting or sewing, you should just go for it,” Peddu said. “It’s something you learn from, it challenges you, and it will help you in your future.”
Peddu’s experience as a youth entrepreneur has helped her throughout her high school career, and she plans to continue expanding her business while exploring her passion.
Cover photo: Smayana Peddu at the Forsyth County Student Market for her business Crafted By Smine. (Photo: Smayana Peddu)
