Young entrepreneur gets an early look at the business world

Most 13-year-olds don’t worry about making budgets, paying bills or running a small business.

Most 13-year-olds aren’t Justin Bray of Reidsville.

Justin started his “chicken business” when he was just 11, by selling eggs to his neighbors. He has since expanded to breed chickens and sell eggs to clients as far as Virginia and the Raleigh area.

Justin’s mother, Sandra Bray, said business really started to pick up when he got support from Tractor Supply Co. in Eden. Sarah Luce, store manager at the Eden location, allowed Justin to give out business cards and within six months, he had taken on 30 new clients.

“He has many different clients, but still tries to help those who really need it,” Sandra Bray said. “He gives eggs at no charge to those who are elderly or sick – especially in our community.”

Luce said a program called Saturday Critter Swap was started partly because of Justin, from the success he had selling baby chicks from the store. This program allows people in the community to swap and sell homegrown animals.

“Justin is a very nice young man, who is conscientious and takes very good care of his animals,” Luce said. “It is rare that you see a young person so nice, thoughtful and respectful. We really enjoy having him at the store.”

Sandra Bray said Justin is learning valuable life lessons very early from his venture into business. She said he sticks to a budget and keeps accurate records of business.

“Justin makes sure he puts money aside for feed, so much for business materials if anything else is needed, and he will put aside some for saving or to get something he wants,” his mother said. “He has also helped me before with his own money, so he already knows about bills.”

Justin also saved up his own money to buy a building which houses incubators for the chickens, wiring for the chicken coups, and food to make sure the animals are well fed. Justin and his mother constructed all the wired cages themselves.

Encouraging Justin to follow his dreams and be successful has helped him be a better person, according to Sandra Bray. She said since Justin is a boy raised in a single-parent home, he could have been more prone to getting in trouble.

“Being a single parent is hard, especially with everything kids have to deal with now,” Bray said. “You want to try and keep them away from drugs and the wrong crowd. This business has helped Justin focus, and his friends even enjoy coming to help him feed or even helping him clean.”

Sandra Bray said she has always had a love for animals, and most likely passed that on to Justin.

“When I grew up, my dad let me have chickens, dogs and other animals,” she said. “When I got married, I had chickens, turkeys, goats and horses. We have always known how to take care of animals.”

Justin said his love for animals is something he would like to pass down to his kids someday. His mother said she teaches him to have high expectations for his life so he can have his family and be a success.

“I have always taught him to set goals so he can get a pretty nice house, and have land to keep cows, horses, and have his chickens,” Bray said.

Justin tells individuals who want to start a business that they can and they should never give up.

“You have to always believe that you can do it and have faith in yourself,” he said.

His mother said support is the most important thing you can give a child with a talent or a head for business.

“If your child has something they want to achieve or a special talent then let them achieve it,” Sandra Bray said. “With the hard times we’ve been through – if I can do it, anyone can.”

Justin continues to stay on the A/B honor roll at Rockingham Middle School, even with his expanding business. He said he wanted to thank everyone who has supported him and those who continue their support - especially Harry Lee Page, who allowed for his “chicken business” to operate on a rented lot; his grandfather, Robert Simpson, for always supporting him, Joseph and his other friends and, most of all, God, whom he puts first in everything he does.