Running a business can be a complicated task, especially when you are in high school and dealing with multiple different activities, but for senior Ava Rambo, anything is possible. Her business, BRAVA&CO, sells trucker hats and children’s clothing. To order from her business, customers may message her via her Facebook page or comment under any of the posts for children’s clothes or premade hats.
“I was inspired to start my business because I felt like I wanted to eventually own a boutique store front but knew that would not be for a while,” Rambo said. “I figured I could start with selling custom trucker hats out of my home to grow my name and clientele, but I have recently started selling children’s clothes within these past few months.”
Ava has owned her business since March 2024, the start of her junior year. As well as owning her own business, she is the co-president of HOSA, co-captain of varity cheer, as well as service chairman of National Honor Socity and a member of Interact.
“Balancing school, work, cheer, and my business is not easy at all but so worth it,” Rambo said. “I believe that the only way I have been able to balance all of these things are being organized. Having a planned out schedule for my day is the best way to go about things rather than just running around and doing things when I feel like it.”
According to Rambo, a day in her life is very busy. She wakes up around 6:15 in the morning, and goes to work at Golden Triangle Nutrition from 7 to 9 a.m. She then goes home and gets ready for school and arrives at 10:15. After school, she has cheer practice until 4:30 or 5:00 in the afternoon. After she gets home from practice, she packs any orders that she might have received throughout the day and makes hats that customers have personalized.
“My plans for the future are a bit confusing, but in my head the perfect plan,” Rambo said. “I plan to go straight into esthetician school following graduation and becoming a licensed esthetician. Next fall I also plan to apply for the dental hygiene program and I find out the next spring if I get accepted. At this time I am not sure if I will continue with the dental hygiene program or not, but I still plan to apply just so if I feel esthetics are not for me or I want to have something to lean on or have as a backup. I also plan to open my own storefront boutique and esthetics business following when I get my esthetician license.”
Even though being a business owner may look good on paper, there are always obstacles Rambo must face. Running a business takes lots of patience and dedication, and Rambo talks about the issues and struggles behind running her own business.
“I would say the most difficult part of owning a business would be the slow times,” Rambo said. “The times when no one is purchasing anything are hard only because I want to continue getting more growth for my business, but when no one is buying, I cannot order more. I really love what I do and owning my business, but at times it is hard to keep it up and not get burnt out when it is not going how I want it to.”
Luckily for Rambo, her mom has been a massive help throughout the whole journey. Even though she fully owns and manages the business, her mom has supported her constantly.
“While my business is ran by me, my mom has been a major help,” Rambo said. “She gives me advice when I need it, helps me come up with designs, and always keeps me motivated. I could not have started this business or kept going if it wasn’t for her support.”
