Getting into business early

Hundreds of Ontario students are part of a provincial program that helps them start up their own businesses for the summer.

Adam Atkinson caught up with two of them, making and selling longboards and decorative picture frames.

Alex Svarc,15, has been longboarding for four years and learned on-line how to make them, so he started his own business.

“It’s called Pure Longboards, and I make custom longboards for a customer based on what they need the board for.”

A longboard, is basically a long skateboard.and he sells them for $80 to $150.

It takes Alex about five hours to make one of his pure longboards in his parents garage. He hopes to sell at least 20 of them this summer, and has sold eight already.

“With my boards I can do any shape that the customer would like, graphics, the boards are fully customizable.”

Alex is part of the province’s summer company program, that gives young entrepreneurs up to $1500 to start their own business.

Humaira Seta,17, started What’s in a Frame.

“My business is custom framing. Customers can tell me if they have a special occasion coming up, birthday or graduation.”

She paints the frames by hand, and then decorates them.

“I think that the art of digital photos is cool, but I like having a tangible photo that people can treasure for a very long time.”

Twenty-right Hamilton students launched businesses as part of the program. Aside from the money, they also get guidance from experts.

“This program gives students a chance to see what entrepreneurship is all about. It helps them with communication skills, networking skills.” said Dragica Lebo.

After working 35 hours a week with their businesses, students can get another $1500 after the summer.