River was the firstborn — she arrived two minutes earlier than her brother — and the primary to start her personal business. In 2020, she appeared for a inventive outlet to hold her busy whereas her extracurricular actions have been on maintain. She turned to beads, string and YouTube tutorials.
“I was right in the middle of one of my shows” on the Kennedy Center, “and then covid shut it down,” mentioned the actress, who not too long ago carried out in “Freaky Friday” at a Virginia theater firm. “I decided I wanted to experiment, so I started making friendship bracelets.”
The subsequent 12 months, she returned to faculty sporting her handmade necklaces and bracelets. Her associates requested her to make them jewellery, too. Their curiosity in her designs gave her the concept, and the boldness, to launch her firm, River Khai Beads. She has since grown her assortment to embody rings, earrings, work, candles and charms for Crocs.
“I set goals for myself. Make at least two bracelets a day and content at least three times a week,” mentioned River. “I also want to inspire other younger girls to start their business.”
Ryder used to work for his sister earlier than putting out on his personal with Ruff Ryder Dog Toys. “I was her banker and financial guy, but she didn’t really pay me,” he mentioned. “So I decided that I needed to make my own business.”
His mother and father requested that he create a business with none exterior bills, equivalent to for uncooked supplies. They supplied him a field of outdated white T-shirts that they had deliberate to give away. He spent a number of weeks researching concepts earlier than touchdown on canine toys made out of upcycled shirts.
“I get my materials from donations, so it’s good for the environment, and I donate to a pit bull foundation,” mentioned Ryder, who assessments his tug toys on his two canine, Rebel and Remington, a pit bull and American Staffordshire pit combine.
To assemble the toys, he cuts T-shirts into 4 lengthy strips, stretches the material after which braids the items. On some fashions, he provides a tennis ball.
“I caught on really quickly, and I just started grinding them out,” mentioned Ryder, who’s a Wiz Kids dancer with the Washington Wizards. “In my first week, I made about 20.”
Ryder has bought about 100 tug toys since he launched his business final 12 months, together with a number of bought on the honest. He plans to increase into different species. He is eyeing the cat toy market and his sister’s bins of feathers.
Toward the top of the honest, Piya Scielzo, the 16-year-old entrepreneur who had organized the occasion, introduced the awards.
At a September honest, River clinched the prize for the corporate with the very best business potential. Three months later, Ryder received for greatest presentation.
“His table was colorful and bright, and he did a demonstration,” mentioned Piya, who additionally served as a decide. “His business is also 100 percent sustainable, and he donates the proceeds.”
When requested how he felt concerning the honor, Ryder appeared over at his sister and mentioned, “If one of us wins, we both win.”