Some entrepreneurs start their businesses to earn a living. But others enter the business to prove something to themselves and inspire others.
Drew Davis is an example of the latter. The St. Louis-area teen, who has cerebral palsy, started his Crippling Hot Sauce company as a school project. But when he received a “B” and was told that his work was “unrealistic,” he was motivated to turn his vision into a real project.
Davis has saved about $3,000 in seed money from Christmas and birthdays over the years. He began launching his products in stores across the region before launching his own online store.
He said recently Interview with the national office“So I decided to do it. 24 months later, we’ve sold more than 178,000 bottles and donated thousands of dollars to cerebral palsy research as part of our mission to show that no matter your situation, anything is possible.”
In addition to inspiring others to pursue their dreams, Davis ensures that the company supports important causes financially as well. Crippling Hot Sauce donates 5 percent of proceeds from each sale to CP research.
Davis’ personal story also features prominently on the company’s website and marketing materials. For example, the website says: “It’s not hot sauce that put me in a wheelchair. It’s cerebral palsy.” The company’s logo features Chili Pepper in a wheelchair.
This is Davis’s way of adding some fun and humor to the brand while also drawing attention to part of what makes the company stand out — his own story.
Every entrepreneur has his or her own background and challenges. Davis’s successful company shows that you don’t have to be ashamed of these differences; You can actually use them to make your company something special and inspire others in the process.
Photo: thecripplingcompany.com
