Gabby Goodwin is an ambitious teenager. She has always dreamed big, and at the tender age of 14, she is already an established entrepreneur.
Young and Driven
She owns GaBBY Bows, which addresses disappearing hair barrettes through an innovative double-face, double-snap barrette.
In addition, the company also offers girls’ natural hair products that simplify styling, pomade, and hair wash day products.
Together with her mother, Rozalynn Goodwin, Gabby has sold online to every state in the U.S. and to twelve other countries. GaBBY Bows products are also available on retail stores like Target.
Gabby was recently invited to share her journey as an entrepreneur as a guest on “One Hundred Percent with Marcus Lemonis”. This is a new podcast by Marcus Lemonis, the philanthropist, TV personality and entrepreneur advocate.
The entrepreneurial 14-year-old revealed how she made a patented barrette after her own barrettes kept falling out and getting lost. She is now on the path to establishing her own hair care empire.
A Worthy Investment
In the same podcast, Lemonis also invited Gayle King to join in the discussion.
Then, in a move that young Gabby was not expecting at all, both King and Lemonis gifted her with a massive $200,000 investment to use in her business. Lemonis offered $150,000 while King offered the remaining $50,000.
Gabby was shocked but ecstatic. This partnership is a blessing to her, especially since it’s so difficult to raise capital as a Black-owned business. She plans to use the investment to develop and buy products and to grow her team so they can better serve their clients.
Why did Lemonis invest in GaBBY Bows, though?
He revealed that thousands of people continually approach him with business ideas.
However, when evaluating a deal, he ensures that the investment he makes is not just in the product, but also in the person behind it.
With Gabby, he loved that she was a young woman who was searching for a solution to a common problem.
Gabby showed a willingness to take risks, that she can listen, and she had tenacity.
Naturally, Gabby’s parents are proud of her accomplishments. So should we. This 14-year-old has shown tenacity, resilience, and perseverance that should inspire us to also pursue our dreams.
