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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Young Entrepeneur Paints Success Story

Tasha Bright Freeman

Who says having a small business isn’t for young people?

Heather O’Neill is not too young to be making a name for herself. She is 13 years old and has a small designing business called Heather Rose Designs.

Her business is located on her ping pong table in her basement, where she hand-paints T-shirts, sweat shirts and tote bags and beads necklesses. She sells her work on the second floor of Auntie’s Bookstore in the Galaxy Gallery & Design Center.

Heather even does some special designs for Christmas. She’s been painting snowmen, angels, Christmas stockings, moons and stars.

Heather does not let her business affect her school work. She attends Sacajawea Middle School, and when her homework is done, she works on her art. She even makes time for it on weekends.

Jennifer Salmi, the owner of Galaxy Gallery, helps Heather by letting her sell through her business.

Jennifer has been very supportive of Heather and hopes a lot more local artistic kids take an interest in what Heather does. She’s also open to letting other teens participate with her in her gallery.

Heather’s clothing sells from $8 to $20. She bought a CD player with the money she’s made and is saving for a trip to California. She is a young, inspiring teen who is not too young to be on the entrepreneurial road.