Johnny Cupcakes
By Alisha Madkins
Zero Fat, Pure Fashion--
What if people could buy a cupcake that would accessorize
perfectly with skinny jeans, a fitted blazer, and designer heels?
Well, John Earle has made this possible by creating a clothing line
called Johnny Cupcakes that has people wearing cute fitted tees
with a fierce, fun edge. Earle, 29, is not your typical designer; he
did not attend an Ivy League college, nor did he receive a fashion
degree. Instead, he exercised his entrepreneurial skills by starting
a lemonade stand and selling pranks to his high school peers.
While these tactics did not make him millions, they were essential
stepping stones in creating a clientele list and branding a name.
Key Ingredients in the Success of
Johnny Cupcakes--
Earle simply needed two ingredients to make his brand
successful: one cup aspiration and three cups dedication. Earle
let his businessman’s intuition take full force and started selling
t-shirts from the trunk of his ‘89 Toyota Camry during “bathroom
breaks” at work. With the aroma of success in the air, Johnny
continued to sketch out ideas to improve the brand he was slowly
establishing. Then it happened: Johnny came across a logo
that stood apart from all the others, a simple crossbones with a
cupcake placed above. This iconic logo has been spotted in music
videos, photo shots, and blogs all over the web. The rise of Earle’s
brand continues to accelerate with the opening of four different
stores, one in Los Angeles and three in Massachusetts: in Boston,
Hull, and Weymouth. Earle will also open another chic boutique
this March in London, but this should be no surprise, considering
Earle was named America’s #1 Young Entrepreneur (2008) by
Business Week.
Donating by the Dozen--
Young adult entrepreneurs ask characteristic questions: How do
I get a business started? How do I make it successful? Where
do I begin? With these questions in mind, Earle has taken to the
streets and started a Johnny Cupcakes Lecturer Series in which
he travels to college campuses and speaks to young adults
about issues that relate to their own needs. “The difference
between Johnny and other Wall Street lecturers is his ability to
tell students about his accomplishments, and in return there
is a sense of connection with the audience,” stated a Babson
College student. Schools Johnny has toured include Lasell
College, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, the
University of California at Santa Barbara, Suffolk University, and
Babson College.
Icing on the Cake--
As they say, a chef never sleeps, and Earle also made a 2010
Johnny Cupcakes Back to Basics Suitcase Tour in which he
traveled in his vintage cupcake van to major cities across the
United States, meeting fans and receiving feedback on his
products. In addition, Earle designed six exclusive t-shirts and
numerous memorabilia items specifically for the tour, to honor
those who helped him establish his brand. Johnny Cupcakes
exemplifies the quality of fortitude, which is the strength of mind
that enables a person to encounter danger or bear adversity
with courage. Without Earle’s dedication, hard work, and good
taste in fashion, people today might not be able to enjoy a nice
cupcake that garnishes a bootleg and embellishes those classic
1980 vans. Hats off to the chef! |
