What It’s Really Like Running a NZ Gift Business at 14

So here’s a fun fact: while most kids my age are stressing over homework, exams or what to wear to the end-of-year school ball (won't see me in a dress...ever!), I’m running a youth-led NZ gift business with huge dreams of expanding it to a full-blown hands-on experience business soon. Yep. My school is basically my shop, my garden, my sketchbook, and this very website you’re reading.

When people ask me, “So what’s it like?” my brain usually goes: chaotic, exciting, nerve-wracking, totally weird, and somehow also the best thing ever. But let me break it down for you…

The “Homework” Is Real Life

Most days, my “assignments” look like this:

• Draw fantails and tūī until my coloured pencils snap (my black pencil is about an inch long now!).

• Figure out how to get the prints on the t-shirts in exactly the right place ...every time!

• Explain to adults that yes, teenagers can run a business (and no, it’s not just a hobby).

Honestly, I’m learning way more about maths from calculating margins on mugs than I ever did from a textbook, (although I do still procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate about the math part!).

Packing Orders vs. Packing a School Bag

Instead of a bell ringing, I have emails dinging. Instead of a classroom, I have a garden full of inspiration. And instead of detention, I have those nights when Shopify refuses to do what I want and I end up Googling “why does my checkout look like a possum hacked it?”

When orders come in, my whole family gets roped in, Mum with the tape, my sisters with the labels, and me bossing everyone around like a mini CEO. (Perks of being the “artist.”) Did you realise that every single order I get is celebrated with cake?

The Stripey Caterpillar Vibe

Our brand is called The Stripey Caterpillar because, well, we love butterflies. And also because sometimes being a teenager feels exactly like being a caterpillar: a bit awkward, a bit stripey, waiting for wings.

Everything we make is inspired by NZ nature: birds, butterflies, flowers, and all the quirky little things that make Aotearoa home. It’s not just about pretty products (though my mugs are very pretty). It’s about creating gifts with a story, something that feels real and alive.

Why Bother?

Sometimes people ask me why I don’t just go to school and learn like other kids my age. And my answer is always the same: Why would I?

Every sale helps me grow. Not just as an “entrepreneur” (fancy word), but as a person. I’m learning confidence, independence, and how to politely smile at market customers who say, “Did your mum draw these for you?” (Nope. That was me. And anyone who knows my mum would know what I mean ...yeah, no way!)

The Best Part

The absolute best part is when someone buys something and tells me it made them smile. Or when I see my art hanging on someone’s wall in their actual house. That’s wild. Like, “my doodles turned into décor” wild.

So yeah, running a youth-led business in New Zealand at 14 is kind of bonkers. But it’s also the most exciting kind of bonkers. And if you’re here reading this, thanks for being part of the adventure.

Now excuse me, I have to go sharpen my pencils… and maybe figure out how GST works.

👉 Check out my latest creations here: Shop Milly's Products
Because supporting a teenager’s dream is basically the coolest NZ gift you can give.