Young entrepreneur makes, sells car freshies at Reese & Co.

Published 9:04 am Monday, October 5, 2020

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Kenley Harrell is an average eight-year-old; she enjoys watching YouTube videos, making beaded bracelets and hanging out with friends. However, she is also an entrepreneur.

During quarantine, Harrell was making beaded bracelets to keep herself occupied when she learned how to make car “freshies”. Upon making a few in various shapes, Harrell started selling her product at Reese & Co. and out of her garage. Harrell and her mom, Katie Spooner make the freshies one at the time when Harrell gets home from school.

They first purchase the scent from Hobby Lobby and mix it with beads and color dye in a mason jar.
Harrell said most of her freshies come in green or purple.

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Once the scent is infused into the beads, Harrell and Spooner place the beads into a shaped metal cookie cutter. It is then placed in the oven for seven minutes and cooled.

Once the freshie is cool, Harrell likes to add accessories.

Harrell makes the freshies in various shapes such as, cow heads, deer heads, hearts, llamas, teepee feathers and cactuses.

On the cow heads, she incorporates a sunflower hair decoration and on the llamas she incorporates a blanket over the llama. When Harrell sells one of her freshies, she said she saves her money to buy more beads.

“The main thing I want her to understand is money doesn’t grow on trees,” Spooner said. “I’ve explained you have to spend money to make money, so you take what you earn to buy more materials and then save the rest.”

Harrell’s father, Kevin Harrell is proud of Kenley for her innovative spirit.

“I think it’s very productive,” Kevin said. “It gives her something to do, and she’s not out there trying to make a killing.”

Harrell and her parents hope to use the money she has saved up to possibly adopt a family at Christmas or give items to the Humane Society.