HUTTO – Kenji and Corey Williams are making the world a better place one heat-pressed message at a time. The Hutto Middle School students design and create t-shirts with culturally relevant artwork, which they sell at fairs, through their website and on social media at https://www.facebook.com/ BossBrothersco.
Kenji, age 13, and Corey, age 12, started their Boss Brothers business in 2018 while in elementary school. The duo recently won third place at Youthpreneur, an Austin trade fair showcasing young entrepreneurs. The recognition came with $100 in prize money.
“They said they liked our skills in conversation, when a customer would walk up to our stand and we would tell them what we were doing,” said Kenji.
Onnesha Williams, the boys’ mother, said she puts half of the money earned in savings for them and gives them the other half to spend or save for things they want, which may include a new addition to the family if Corey gets his way.
“I asked Mom if we could get a dog and she said not very soon because dogs are expensive so I’m saving money for that,” he said.
Mrs. Williams trained her sons how to use the equipment, and they do every part of the t-shirt production on their own now. She is also teaching them about bookkeeping and inventory. Kenji and Corey credit her with being their inspiration.
“Our mom started making shirts and clothes for people, and we asked if we could join her and she allowed us, and we make shirts now,” Corey said.
“We sit down together and decide what design the shirt will have and what the message should say on the shirt,” said Kenji.
“We make some for holidays and special months, like Halloween and Christmas. We have one with a skeleton. We have hippo ones,” Corey added.
The pair’s mother said that while the kids make some fun shirts, they also make shirts about unity and humanity.
“Corey designed ‘Love is treating everyone equal’ and ‘Human’. This is Kenji, ‘Hopeful,’ Mrs. Williams said. “What I love is you can kind of see the stamp of the kids.”
Kenji and Corey also make a series of shirts that reflect on values they are taught in school as part of “The Hippo Way”.
“The ‘Be Kind’ shirts are about being nice to people, don’t be a bully, and being positive about people’s feelings,” Corey said. “Don’t try to ruin their day. Just because you’re not feeling okay, it’s not okay to make others feel that way either.”
During Black History Month, the brothers were invited to speak to a group of Ray Elementary School students about being young Black entrepreneurs.
“We just introduced ourselves and talked about what we do and how we do it,” Kenji said. “I asked how many people think they would be serious businesspeople. Everybody raised their hand.”
“The fact that they could take agency and take that responsibility is amazing and I’m very proud of them,” Mrs. Williams said. “It’s important for them being black children to have positive messages that they not only give to other people, but that they create to empower themselves. I think that does counter some of the things we might see in society.”
Mrs. Williams advises parents of potential entrepreneurs to be open to the idea.
“Tell them it’s possible and take them seriously,” she said. “Take the ideas you see your kids have talent in and let them run with it and see how far your children go.”
