Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matthew Woodland Huntley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Matthew, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I hold my mother’s jewelry close to my heart. It has always been a precious reminder of her love and care. Making rubber band jewelry has been my favorite pastime for as long as I can remember. I used to sell them for a dollar or two, never really thinking of it as a business. But in 2021, I stumbled upon an article about owning a business and the risks of getting sued for using someone else’s name. It scared me to the core, and I realized I needed to take my hobby seriously. I started tracking my sales and expenses, and even thought of trademarking my own business.

But there was a deeper reason why I started making jewelry in the first place. I knew that there were children whose parents would not buy them expensive jewelry, and it broke my heart. So I came up with the idea of creating affordable jewelry for kids. That’s why my first pieces were made out of rubber bands. I loved experimenting with different techniques and designs, until one day, someone asked me if I made real jewelry. I was taken aback, no one had ever asked me that before. I hesitated for a moment, and then answered honestly, “Not yet.”

That was the turning point in my life. I started reading books, watching videos, and researching articles about making real jewelry. And in 2021, I finally mustered the courage to ask my mother for some supplies. I was going to make real jewelry, and nothing could stop me.

Matthew, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

At the helm of Cool Kids Inc. is the visionary 13-year-old entrepreneur, Matthew Woodland Huntley. Living in the heart of Washington, DC, Matthew is a trailblazer with a passion for jewelry and a keen eye for business. Despite his young age, Matthew has demonstrated remarkable leadership and determination in establishing Cool Kids Inc, as a go-to destination for unique and stylish jewelry pieces. Matthew’s commitment to his community and his desire to empower others have been the driving forces behind Cool Kids Inc.’s success. His innovative approach and inclusive mindset have set the tone for the store’s welcoming atmosphere, where customers can explore a curated selection of jewelry that reflects Matthew’s creativity and dedication.

If you had met the company in 2021 and 2022 you would have know it was called The Future is now. The company operates an online business, which suggests that they may have a strong e-commerce presence, potentially reaching customers beyond the D.C. area. Cool Kids Inc has always wanted the best for there customers. Cool Kids Inc, is a vibrant online store, specializing in the sale of handmade jewelry. Our store is a testament to empowerment, confidence, and entrepreneurship, aiming to bring innovation and style to the local community and beyond.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I actually built our audience using friends and family. My friends and family were actually the first followers I got on our business page expect for twitter is the only place where no friends or family followed us if we have followers its because they actually did it on their own.

Some advice I would give when running your own social media pages. I would say definitely get friends and family to follow and then ask them to tell there friends to follow and so forth. Something I would someone would have told me before I started this was never stop posting no matter what happens keep posting I bet you it will do so much good in the future.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

My side hustle did use to be making rubber band Jelwery. Rubber band Jelwery was my first type of Jelwery making. But then me and my mom were thinking about making it a actual business, because I wanted to have a actual small business. Some of the Key Milestone were teaming up with other company’s. there was also making my first out of state sale and making my first $100 and $250. I would say that it took my about 1 year I made it a actual business in January of 2023 and now it is December.

Contact Info:

• Website: coolkidsinc.square.site
• Facebook: facebook.com/coolkidsinc22
• Twitter: twitter.com/coolkidsinc22
• Other: pinterest.com/CoolKidsINC Number- (833)-256-1101 Email-[email protected]

Image Credits
Khalilah Woodland Matthew Woodland Huntley Cool Kids Inc