How one family helped their daughter explore her interests and skills and ended up developing a microenterprise within an exciting niche
Most people experience a micro-business when they are young. They might look after a friend’s pet or mow a neighbour’s lawn and receive some money or other item of value in return. Such micro-businesses teach young people valuable lessons about work, money, saving, and contribution.
Unfortunately, young people with disability often miss out on enjoying such experiences of work.
When COVID-19 changed Chloe’s plans for employment, Chloe and her family decided to think big and try a microenterprise.
In this presentation, Chloe and her mother Jodie will outline how they
- identified Chloe’s skills and interests
- utilised their personal networks
- and developed a successful microenterprise.
About the presenters
Chloe Reid – Owner of Mrs Clompy’s Closet
Chloe Reid is a Canberra local with a strong interest in fashion and design. She finished Year 12 in 2018 and wanted to find work that fuelled her interest in sewing and design.
Thanks largely to the COVID pandemic, employment was difficult to find. With her mum Jodie’s support, she established a small business called Mrs Clompy’s Closet. A conversation with one of Jodie’s work colleagues led to an order of scrunchies for a local girls’ soccer team. Suddenly, Chloe found herself with an exciting niche!
Chloe has recently launched her virtual shop on Etsy. She now sells hair scrunchies and beautiful lavender pillows to customers all over Australia. Mrs Clompy’s Closet can be found on Etsy, Instagram and Facebook.
You can also hear Jodie speaking to ABC Canberra’s Adrienne Francis on the ABC Canberra website.
Jodie Reid
Jodie Reid is a passionate and enthusiastic parent who loves talking about inclusion with anyone who wants to listen (and occasionally with some who don’t!). She believes that everybody has “their thing”- a talent, a passion, a skill – of value to contribute to those around them.
In her professional life, Jodie has worked in a range of government policy and program areas. She enjoys working collaboratively and looking for simple, creative solutions to complex problems. Just because no one has done it that way before doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
Jodie and her husband have two children, 15 and 21. Their daughter attended her local schools, from preschool to secondary college, and completed Year 12 in 2018. With Jodie’s help, she then followed her interest in fashion and sewing and runs a successful small enterprise in Canberra.