Q: Why did you start making and selling cat toys?
Freshman Em Ramesy: I started making cat toys as a form of entertainment for both myself and my cats during the pandemic. I already knew how to sew because of my grandmother and mom, so it worked out well.
Q: How many cat toys have you sold?
ER: I’ve sold at least 500 cat toys, but I’m almost always selling more. I get about two or three orders a week, but I’m still constantly making more for craft fairs.
Q: What are your prices?
ER: I sell everything for five dollars because I want to be affordable. I had a lot of the materials when I started, so that saved me money. I also buy most of my materials from Dollar Tree, which makes it very affordable. I make a pretty sizable profit and save time since I don’t have to work a normal after-school job.
Q: What materials do you use?
ER: I use a lot of plants that I dry myself but I also use fabrics, strings, feathers, hot glue, thread and really anything else I have or think would work. I use catnip in some of them but not all. I hand sew little pouches for the base of the toy then fill it with either catnip, stuffing or crinkle plastics. On some I’ll attach strings and feathers on then end for something extra.
Q: How long does it take you to make a cat toy?
ER: I make them in large batches that take about 20 minutes, so it cuts time really well. One individual cat toy takes about seven minutes to make.
Q: How do you sell your products?
ER: I sell at a lot of young entrepreneurs fairs and I now accept orders through my email. I have considered trying to upgrade, but I don’t know what will happen later on. Right now I just plan on making and selling my products until I decide I don’t want to.
Q: How did you stay motivated throughout the process?
ER: My mom taught me how to sew and I inherited a sewing machine from my grandmother, so that really helped out a lot. I had a lot of help getting everything setup and started. But my parents have always helped me out with anything I have needed. My grandparents have helped me every step of the way with anything and everything.
Q: What lessons has running your own business taught you?
ER: It’s really taught me self reliance and, to be honest, to accept help. I would have struggled without the help that others offered me.
