While many people will remember the past year for its challenging times, lost experiences and missed opportunities, Maya Schreiber, a Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School freshman, has a different perspective on the pandemic.
“2020 was obviously not an amazing year for anybody. But without quarantine and the year 2020, I wouldn’t have started my business, and I’m thankful for that,” says Maya, founder of Charm City Cases. “Instead of looking at the negative, I’m trying to see the positives. I took all the extra time to start my cell phone case business, which was a risk for me and out of my comfort zone. Starting the business made me realize it’s good to try new things and get out of that comfort zone because it will pay off in the end.”
Maya, 15, started customizing cell phone cases over the summer as an activity to keep busy during the lockdown.
“Like everyone, I was bored during quarantine and wanted to do something productive,” she says. “I bought a cell phone case from another small business and thought the concept of a cell phone case company was really interesting, so I decided to do that. I have always loved doodling and draw all my designs.”
Some of her favorite designs include her heart case, her star-and-lightning bolt case, her strawberry case and her lavender collage case. The self-taught small business owner started selling the cases last August, and created an Etsy shop and Instagram page to get the company’s name out there.
“Once I started posting on social media, my business really grew,” Maya says. “I had a few Instagram videos go viral, which increased sales. My favorite video I’ve posted was one that included every case I sold at the time. I edited the video so each case was shown quickly and whichever case you landed on was the one I suggested you purchase. I never thought my videos could go viral, so that was cool and helped me with sales.”
Since the company’s inception, Maya has sold more than 650 cases to customers in 48 states and at least five countries.
But it was in Charm City, her company’s namesake, where the selling really began.
“My friends have been so supportive and were my very first customers,” she says. “Having their support made me feel really good. I didn’t know how starting a business would go but it’s paid off, which makes me feel really proud.”
Maya, who is back to in-person, full-time school, says she dedicates every other day to case-making after completing all of her homework.
“I try to not procrastinate as much as I used to in order to get everything done,” she says. “I’m up late at night and after I finish my homework, I don’t have as much time to relax at night. But I love the process of making phone cases, so I don’t mind.”
Maya says she invests the money she earns from sales back into the business, using the funds to purchase the cases and special printer required to produce the designs.
She says the profits she does not reinvest are donated to different charities, including the National Alliance on Mental Health, JDRF (which promotes type 1 diabetes research funding and advocacy), the International Committee of the Red Cross and an organization that helps families impacted by the winter storms in Texas.
“If there is something going on in the world, I like to donate to a charity that can help,” says Maya. “It makes me feel good to donate and to know I’m helping people around the world. I have the money to donate and don’t need it myself, so I give enough to make a difference.”
In addition to learning how to operate a small business, Maya has made new friends in the entrepreneurial community.
“I’ve been surprised how supportive everyone is,” she says. “I’ve made friends with other small business owners through social media, which I was not expecting.”
Maya says she loves running her own business and is excited for the company’s future growth.
“I definitely want to keep it going and see how far I can take it, and how far I can grow,” she says. “Right now, I’m selling only cases but I may look into selling other stuff like clothing, because the printer I have can also print on clothing. I want to keep this business going.”
To purchase a case from Charm City Cases, visit Instagram, Etsy or send an email to charmcitycases@gmail.com.
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