Henry Allison (9) carefully cuts the picture of his cat into a length and width of three inches. He places the picture onto his button. It’s the biggest size he has. He’s calm and shows no stress as he places the button on the platform before pressing on the dye. He lets out a contented laugh. The process is close to being done. As the button is held firmly at the top, Allison places the pin on the bottom. He presses the dye once more, connecting the button to the pin. He holds his new cat button, thrilled to soon put it on his backpack.

Allison has just completed making his first button, and he plans on making many more.

“I make buttons,” Allison said. “I use a printer to make all the designs.”

Allison had bought the button maker after he hit a complication when he went out to buy buttons to personalize his very own backpack.

“I was buying a ton [of buttons] at Hot Topic, but there weren’t many designs I liked, so I decided [I should] make my own,” Allison said.

Allison knew he wanted to not only make buttons for himself, but sell them to others.

“I was planning on selling them from the start,” Allison said. “I felt like people would like it … and since I could do so many designs, I could take requests on what [people wanted].”

Allison, however, had one other reason for wanting to make and sell buttons.

“Seeing other people make buttons and seeing people in school with cool designs on their bags,”Allison said.

Allison has had his button business since the beginning of his freshman year.

“I’m not sure if it’ll go into college, but I know it’s going to go on for at least another couple years,” Allison said.

Allison sells three different sizes of buttons, which can be 1 inch, 1.5 inches and 2.25 inches. The most sold sizes are the medium size ones. His prices range from $3 to $5 depending on the size. Allison doesn’t have specific product designs he sells, as customers personalize their own buttons.

“I’ve only done commissions so far [which is] somebody asking for a certain design and I just make that,” Allison said.

With this hobby, Allison has gained beneficial knowledge about business and button-making.

“Making buttons has been quite a learning experience for me,” Allison said. “I’ve learned how to use the machine, as well as things like supply and demand, how to build interest in a product, and how to make money from taking paid commissions … [just] how to build a market for what you’re selling and how to get people wanting [your product].”

Allison has also learned about the skills needed to manage his button business.

“It definitely takes a lot of creativity and just thinking of how to make something, what to make, and obviously I’ve learned a lot about making buttons and business,” Allison said.

Allison has only one piece of advice to people who want to start businesses.

“Just start. Do it,” Allison said. “Try your best, and just try to get people to want [your product].”