Determination. Sometimes it begins at a young age that all starts with a lemonade stand. Some people are born with the drive to run a business. Two students here at Southwest are taking their ‘lemonade stand’ to a whole other level.

Junior Chloe Davis had no idea how successful her own business would be. In between FCA gatherings and National Honors Society meetings and tennis practice she never thought her business would be so prosperous.

Two summers ago, Davis started a cookie business called Chlobug’s Cookies. She started Chlobug’s Cookies with the help of her mother and the encouragement of her friends.

“Some family friends told me they would pay me to make them cookies, so it was kind of a joke at first, then it turned into an actual business,” Davis said.

Chlobug’s Cookies specializes in custom made sugar cookies. Davis’ creativity knows no bounds. From little barnyard animals to graduation caps to warm wooly mittens, these cute little confections can be found throughout Kansas.

Davis has many customers all throughout the city. She has done cookies for parties, baby showers, graduations, and even some orthodontists. With this many different customers, just how many orders does she receive per month?

It ranges anywhere from 10-25 dozen a month,” Davis said.

With her plate full and a very busy schedule, Davis manages to balance her business while still keeping up with the day to day activities of a high schooler. You can place your orders and find out more information about Chlobug’s Cookies by clicking here

Sophomore Emilie Dayton is involved in theater, singing, playing the guitar and balancing a social life. She also runs her own business. Dayton runs a bakery out of her own kitchen that, “makes gourmet cakes, cupcakes, and cakepops.” So what is the name behind this delectable bakery?

“Giggles and Sprinkles,” Dayton said.  “The name just came, I was in seventh grade.”

Though the name may sound all rainbows and butterflies, this girl can whip up some delicious baked goods.

Prices for Dayton’s baked goods range from $1.50 for a single classic cupcake like vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry to $9.00 for a dozen cakepops in flavours like ‘Spring Lemon’ ‘Fudge Devil’ or ‘Pink Lemonade’. Interested in these tempting treats? You can place your orders and find out more information about Giggles and Sprinkles by clicking here

So what does it take to make it big in a big society like Johnson County? Personal chef and manager of Exquisite Eats Michelle Coakley gives us the inside scoop.

“It’s all me,” Coakley said. “I like to think I work full time, but I don’t.”

Coakley runs, manages, advertises and executes her business all by herself; she also is a mother of two and a wife. You can contact Michele Coakley and find out more information and book Exquisite Eats by clicking here

Coakley said the best qualities a student with a business can have are organization and adaptation because, “things change all of the time. You really have to learn how to be flexible and with that be able to multitask.”

Both Davis and Dayton have had very successful careers in the business industry at such a young age.

“I think it’s great students are getting involved at such a young age,” sophomore Emily Butler said.

“It’s good profit and it is something that is enjoyable,” Davis said.

They say if people love what they do, they never work a day in their life. No matter their age, students are getting involved and running their own businesses. They are learning what it takes to make a statement in a buzzing society and how to run a successful company.

“I love what I do. If you have a passion for it, it really makes a difference.”

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