Backyard business takes off
Young entrepreneurs Ryan (left) and brother Evan (right) Jacobs at the Children’s Entrepreneur Market, where they debuted their business In Your Own Back Yard.
Ryan (8) and Evan (6) Jacobs, two brothers from the Green Briar neighborhood and students at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE), have turned their love of nature into a small business, In Your Own Backyard. The boys hand make and sell bird feeders, do-it-yourself bird feeder kits, humming bird feeders and bug catching kits.
The brothers showcased their new venture at the Children’s Entrepreneur Market (CEM) held during the Centennial Chalk Art Festival in September. The event requires that participants, ages 5-17, manage all customer interactions and sales themselves.
“We love that Children’s Entrepreneur Market is available in our area and such a great organization to help children,” said mom Rebecca and dad Ross. “It really paid off at their first show, and it was so great to see their confidence grow throughout the day.”
When Ryan was in second grade, he first thought of the idea for bird feeders during TTE’s Makers Market. Though he could not build feeders for that project, the idea stuck with him. Last summer, Ryan and Evan came up with their business name, and with the help of their parents, brainstormed a full product lineup, including branding and packaging.
“They worked really hard after school making and packaging everything to get ready,” said Rebecca. “We helped them create spreadsheets to track inventory and expenses and helped them price their items.” Ryan and Evan’s aunt, who is a creative director and graphic designer, helped with designing their logo, packaging and sticker sheets.
“We sold almost all of our bird feeders,” said Ryan. “I learned a lot and want to keep doing these markets to learn more about business.”
The first market experience was such a success that the brothers took part in Oktoberfest in Colorado Springs. They introduced dried apple bird feeders to keep with the seasonal theme and their love for nature. They are scheduled for three more markets before the holidays.
Ryan and Evan brought bird feeders to their teachers Kimberly Borner and Kathryn Smith. Ryan also thanked his former first-grade teacher Julie Schade who was a great supporter of Ryan and his love for science and nature.
“It’s so inspiring to see Ryan and Evan turn their ideas into something meaningful for our community and the environment,” said Julie. “What a wonderful way to show that even our youngest learners can make a big difference.”
To learn more about In Your Own Backyard, email inyourownbackyardco@gmail.com.
For more information on CEM, visit kidsmarkets.com.
Brothers Ryan and Evan Jacobs making dried apple bird feeders for Oktoberfest in Colorado Springs.
The brothers also created bug catching kits for their business, In Your Own Backyard.
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Rebecca Jacobs
