Young Entrepreneur Finds Success with Pickleball Paddles

Eleora Liang is a 13-year-old homeschooled student from Singapore who has turned her love for pickleball into a thriving business. She runs A Little Ripple, an online store that sells pickleball paddles. Eleora's journey began when she was just 10 years old, selling stationery and small gifts. However, she quickly realized that this business model wasn't sustainable. After considering and dismissing other business ideas like selling clothes and home decor, Eleora found her niche in pickleball paddles. She had been playing the sport for four years and noticed a growing demand for paddles. Despite the challenges of finding a reliable supplier, she eventually secured one and launched her business in early 2024. Eleora's daily routine is a balance of studies, violin practice, and managing her business. She spends four to five hours a day updating her website, creating social media content, packing orders, and responding to customer inquiries. Her family plays a significant role in supporting her business, with her parents handling financial matters and her older sister assisting with marketing.A Little Ripple offers a range of pickleball paddles for beginners and advanced players, as well as children's paddles and paddle sets. Eleora's earnings vary, but she can make up to $3, 000 a month during peak business times. She reinvests part of her profits into her business and uses the rest to fund her violin hobby. Like any entrepreneur, Eleora faces challenges, such as managing customer expectations during shipment delays and dealing with unreasonable customers. Despite these hurdles, she finds the entrepreneurial journey exciting and enjoyable. She encourages other young aspiring entrepreneurs not to fear failure, as it's a valuable learning experience. Recently, Eleora expanded her business by launching DIY crochet kits, which include materials and step-by-step video tutorials for creating various animals. With prices starting at $7. 90, these kits are also available on her website.