Westport 9-Year-Old Launches Small Business

Milana Araujo is just like any other nine-year-old girl, but with one difference: she owns and operates her own small business called M&M Boutique, featuring bath and body home products, among other things.

"I started helping my mom make her craft products," Milana said. "I learned how to do it, so I ended up making my own."

Her mother Ashley said Milana will spend about 30 minutes a day after school and roughly four or five hours each weekend working on her business. So far, the money that she earns has been invested right back into the business to make more inventory.

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Learning Lessons While Making Money

"Part of the reason I really wanted to help her do this is so she'd learn the value of a dollar," Ashley said. "She has learned how to break down a business between the cost of materials to how to price her products. It has definitely opened her eyes to spending. She doesn't want to spend money anymore, especially her money!"

Milana was able to convince the owner of Imagine Gift Store in Warren, Rhode Island to allow her to display her inventory.

Why Imagine Gift Store Decided to Carry Milana's Crafts

Michelle Fox has owned Imagine Gift Store for nine years, and said she's "honored" to carry Milana's products.

"I was very impressed with Milana being so young and ambitious. Her mom also sells her products at my store, so I already knew the family and have enjoyed working with them," Fox said. "The relationship with her mother made me even more excited to collaborate with her daughter and support the whole family."

"Milana is a very smart young lady and we’re honored to sell her products in our store," Fox said. "She has some wonderful signage on her display so customers will all know she’s a young entrepreneur. "

What Milana Thinks Has Made Her Business So Successful

Milana thinks a big selling point for the jewelry is that people like the fact that she's a little girl selling her products.

She said her fellow fourth grade students at Holy Trinity School in Fall River think her business is "pretty cool."