Student-owned business exceeds expectations

As many PV students start thinking about their potential careers, Perkiomen Valley High School senior, Scarlet Kashuba, has already exercised her entrepreneurial spirit by starting her own business, Scarlet’s Stitchery. 

At just 9 years old, Kashuba taught herself crafting and crocheting through YouTube videos; soon after, she started to share her passion and creations with others. She currently has nearly 60 items available for purchase in her shop on Etsy, which contain plushies, accessories and PDF instructional patterns. 

“My favorite, and by far most popular item, is my honey bear plushie. The plushie is a teddy bear with a bumblebee on its back,” Kashuba said. Her patterns are so popular that her slumber pup plushie and pattern recently earned a bestseller badge.

Kashuba has surprised herself with her impact through her crocheting business.

“I am most proud of the amount of people I have reached through my crochet. Doing business with over 40 countries and 6 continents is an accomplishment I still can’t believe is real,” Kashuba said.

Scarlet’s Stitchery currently has made over 2,300 sales and is approaching 20,000 followers on Instagram. However, Kashuba’s success goes beyond her entrepreneurship. Figure skating is another one of her passions, and she is a U.S. Figure Skating double gold medalist.

Kashuba plans to expand her business, even through college and other career explorations.

“While most of my items are made-to-order, I would like to incorporate some ready-to-ship items like the new honey bear stickers I just added. Although I don’t know exactly what my future holds, Scarlet’s Stitchery will be in it,” Kashuba said.

For anyone that is thinking about starting their own business, Kashuba shares that she believes success starts with passion and patience.

“My advice is to love what you do. Starting a business takes a whole lot of patience and trial-and-error, but if you are truly passionate about what you make or sell, the process will feel like the most rewarding journey,” Kashuba said.