Business owners as young as nine-years-old gathered outside City Hall to sell fashion, artwork, sweet treats and other products during the Youth Entrepreneur Expo today.

Fourteen vendors took part in the second annual event, which was organised by The Office of Youth Affairs to celebrate International Youth Day.

Jaylon Glasford, owner of fashion company HeadzUp, said wearing headbands had boosted his confidence and inspired him to start the business about three years ago.

The 14-year-old said the favourite part of running a business is getting his message out and he urged other young people who may want to run their own business to “make sure they have everything together”.

He explained: “When you’re not focused and don’t keep a check on everything, it’s very hard.”

Jada Welch, also 14, first started JJ’s Calle Comida food stand in May 2024 and restarted the company earlier this year.

Ms Welch can be seen selling baked goods and other food outside Wesley Community Church every Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

She said the best part of running a business is having something of her own and told aspiring young entrepreneurs: “Even if people tell you not to, do it anyway”.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said: “It’s important to give an opportunity for young people, particularly our creatives, to sell their products onto the community.”

The minister noted how one vendor, Nico Bean, of art business Flow by Nico, attended the Events in Culture Summit in Brooklyn, New York last year thanks to the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

Visit headzup_bda on Instagram or headzupbda.com to learn more about HeadzUp and jjscallecomida on Instagram for more about JJ’s Calle Comida and flowbynico.com for more about Mr Bean’s business.