A young entrepreneur from Stanley Bridge wants to help Island kids live limitless.
Brendan Melanson, who graduated from high school in 2012, teamed up with a partner to create a business venture they call Limitless Apparel Company.
It’s a new clothing brand that will feature a new design and that will sell in limited quantities.
They are donating $5 from the sale of every T-shirt to Kids Help Phone. The next design will see $5 from every shirt donated to Kidsport.
“When I was in junior high I got bullied a little bit and now my friends, their younger brothers and sisters are getting bullied now,’’ Melanson said in explaining why he wants to help raise money for Kids Help Phone. “It’s just something that happens to the best of us.’’
In addition to the bullying, Melanson remembers how many of his friends didn’t play sports because they couldn’t afford it so he hopes to help a little bit in that area as well.
Growing up in the small village of Stanley Bridge, Melanson worked summers at his family’s seasonal tourism stores at the Cavendish Boardwalk. After getting through high school, he decided to take a year off and experience the real world, still unsure of what he wanted to do.
He worked different jobs, from call centres to gas stations until the chance came to take over one of the family businesses and open his own ice cream store.
But scooping ice cream wasn’t his thing so, like so many other young Islanders, he went out to work the oil fields in Alberta.
Now he’s back. Aside from taking business administration at Nova Scotia Community College and being a fitness enthusiast, Melanson is pushing his new Limitless brand.
“For a couple of months I’ve been sitting on the idea of creating a design and printing it myself and doing it all on my own.’’
Then he found a partner, combining his business sense with the artistic hand of Taylor Himelstein from Maryland.
“I’m not looking to make a lot of money,’’ Melanson said. “I wanted to make enough to get me through college but also give back. I’m not trying to get rich off this.’’
But he’s dedicated. When he’s not in the classroom or doing homework, he’s printing T-shirts.
The first design, featuring the word Limitless in red, will sell 15,000 copies and is available in men’s and women’s sizes.
He wanted to offer an affordable option (his T-shirts sell for $25 each) to the massively popular brand market, such as American Eagle, which can range up to $40.
He’s not sure what the future holds but it will involve business in some way. It’s in his blood.
“Growing up in my family . . . they own business but they don’t throw the money around. It’s how I was raised. I was brought up to appreciate the value of money. If you don’t have a value for money that changes your whole perspective on life.’’
At this point, Melanson hopes he has created a tangible product that makes a small profit and enables him to help out other young Islanders.
To order a shirt, or for more information, visit www.ilivelimitless.com.
A young entrepreneur from Stanley Bridge wants to help Island kids live limitless.
Brendan Melanson, who graduated from high school in 2012, teamed up with a partner to create a business venture they call Limitless Apparel Company.
It’s a new clothing brand that will feature a new design and that will sell in limited quantities.
They are donating $5 from the sale of every T-shirt to Kids Help Phone. The next design will see $5 from every shirt donated to Kidsport.
“When I was in junior high I got bullied a little bit and now my friends, their younger brothers and sisters are getting bullied now,’’ Melanson said in explaining why he wants to help raise money for Kids Help Phone. “It’s just something that happens to the best of us.’’
In addition to the bullying, Melanson remembers how many of his friends didn’t play sports because they couldn’t afford it so he hopes to help a little bit in that area as well.
Growing up in the small village of Stanley Bridge, Melanson worked summers at his family’s seasonal tourism stores at the Cavendish Boardwalk. After getting through high school, he decided to take a year off and experience the real world, still unsure of what he wanted to do.
He worked different jobs, from call centres to gas stations until the chance came to take over one of the family businesses and open his own ice cream store.
But scooping ice cream wasn’t his thing so, like so many other young Islanders, he went out to work the oil fields in Alberta.
Now he’s back. Aside from taking business administration at Nova Scotia Community College and being a fitness enthusiast, Melanson is pushing his new Limitless brand.
“For a couple of months I’ve been sitting on the idea of creating a design and printing it myself and doing it all on my own.’’
Then he found a partner, combining his business sense with the artistic hand of Taylor Himelstein from Maryland.
“I’m not looking to make a lot of money,’’ Melanson said. “I wanted to make enough to get me through college but also give back. I’m not trying to get rich off this.’’
But he’s dedicated. When he’s not in the classroom or doing homework, he’s printing T-shirts.
The first design, featuring the word Limitless in red, will sell 15,000 copies and is available in men’s and women’s sizes.
He wanted to offer an affordable option (his T-shirts sell for $25 each) to the massively popular brand market, such as American Eagle, which can range up to $40.
He’s not sure what the future holds but it will involve business in some way. It’s in his blood.
“Growing up in my family . . . they own business but they don’t throw the money around. It’s how I was raised. I was brought up to appreciate the value of money. If you don’t have a value for money that changes your whole perspective on life.’’
At this point, Melanson hopes he has created a tangible product that makes a small profit and enables him to help out other young Islanders.
To order a shirt, or for more information, visit www.ilivelimitless.com.
