Community & Business
13 March, 2021
Young entrepreneurs making a difference
JUMPING a step ahead at the age of 12, two teenage girls have turned their hobbies into businesses by selling their creations together at the Mareeba Market’s each month.
BY ELLIE FINK
JUMPING a step ahead at the age of 12, two teenage girls have turned their hobbies into businesses by selling their creations together at the Mareeba Market’s each month.
Selling cupcakes and pet fish, friends Emily Curcio and Charlee Croucher have become regulars at the markets since kicking off their business ventures last year.
Emily has a passion for baking cakes. She makes everything from scratch and says that she wants her name to be big in the cake industry one day.
“I thought this would be something really fun to do and get my business name out there before I leave school,” she said.
“I like making cakes and the creativity that comes out of it and being able to do whatever designs I want on them.”
Charlee began selling pet fish at the markets after the idea sprang from her family hobby – fish breeding.
“I love fish, we have a lot of tanks at home and our hobby as a family is breeding them,” she said.
“We have a different range of fish from molly’s, platy’s, swordtails, guppy’s and a few goldfish.”
Charlee said that she hopes to open her own pet store and sell larger fish and other animals in the future.
The girls are also making a difference to their community by donating part of their profits to local charities.
In the past they have donated to Relay for Life, Animal Rescue and made up care baskets for the Mareeba Animal Refuge filled with food, beds and litter.
Emily’s mother, Jen Curcio said she is incredibly proud of her daughter and Charlee’s talent and drive to become entrepreneurs.
“I am very proud and so is Tanya (Charlee’s mum), they do it all themselves and buy and create everything themselves,” she says.
“Emily's Creations” and “Charlee's Fish” will be at the Mareeba Markets this Saturday, March 13 with their yummy cup.
