Sharon Pre-Teen Entrepreneurs Start T-Shirt Business

Pre-teen Sharon entrepreneurs Ty Goldstein and Jimmy Fitzhenry, both 11, have celebrated their one-year anniversary of running their own T-shirt business called Hometown T-Shirts.

The pair, who have been playing various sports together for six years, said they have sold over 100 T-shirts already and have just expanded their business.   

Each T-shirt has the town's name and zip code, and is available in all sizes. 

Goldstein said what motivated him to start the business with Fitzhenry was that "my sisters made an airbrush tattoo business,” when they were teens.         

He also confessed, "I've always liked money."

"We did T-shirts, because Jimmy's mom makes T-shirts," said Goldstein.  Fitzhenry's mother Alyssa used to own a store in Stoughton, making tie-dyed shirts.

Fitzhenry said to get their business off the ground, "Me and Ty went door to door to start off." They put flyers in stores and restaurants in Sharon. 

Goldstein and Fitzhenry haven't done it all by themselves.  Their parents provided the initial capital, the most encouragement and Alyssa Fitzhenry places the orders for the shirts.

Most of their T-shirts have been sold within Sharon, but they have recently expanded their business to Canton and Stoughton. Fitzhenry said the new shirts were just ordered and will be in at the beginning of December.

They take their proceeds and re-invest into the business, save and donate 20 percent off the top to The Make A Wish Foundation.  Goldstein they chose because after searching online they thought it would be "a good foundation for kids."  

The Sharon Middle School sixth graders are still looking to expand.   

"We hope it grows to other towns," said Fitzhenry.

He noted that to help, "We're gonna make a website. We're learning how to make the website now." He said they are hoping to have it up by Christmas.  Currently they advertise on their Facebook page.

He said they'll keep selling, "As long as possible, as long as people keep buying the shirts." 

Regarding what they plan to do with their savings, Fitzghenry said, “We're saving up for college and stuff."