Entrepreneur Spotlight

 

Clayton Jenkins, Founder, Premium Steam

 

By: Colin Kelly Jr.

 

On December 6, 2007 more than 700 High School students throughout Utah gathered at the Larry H. Miller Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence during the Young Entrepreneurs of America (YEA) 2007 Young Entrepreneurial Summit. The daylong event is the brainchild of local entrepreneur, Brian Acord, who founded YEA (yeabiz.com) in 1996 to educate and inspire young students interested in someday starting businesses of their own.

YEA hosts many events and programs each year in addition to the Young Entrepreneurial Summit including a business plan competition, the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and the Summer Startup Scholarships program. During each school year, YEA works closely with community volunteers and High School teachers to provide requested speakers and mentors in the classroom to supplement any business-related curriculum.

One of the 2007 Young Entrepreneurial Summit's breakout sessions, "Entrepren-her," targeted would-be women entrepreneurs by exposing young women to some of Utah's best woman-owned startups. The session was led by one of YEA's up-and-comers, Davis High School senior Clayton Jenkins.

Jenkins, along with Ian Anderson (Grantsville High School), Blake Caldwell (Tooele High School) and Tyler Tolbert (Riverton High School), received scholarships last summer from YEA's Summer Startup program. This program is geared toward helping promising young entrepreneurs research and actually start their own businesses while still in high school.

Jenkins' company, Premium Steam, is the first of many ventures he plans to undertake in his near future.

Launch sat down with Jenkins to talk about his company, future plans and experiences with YEA.

 

Launch: Why did you decide to start your own business at such a young age?

Clayton Jenkins: The idea came from wanting to work for myself. I got a job flipping burgers at Arctic Circle and got tired of doing that very quickly — I knew then that I wanted to start and run something of my own.

I've always been interested in marketing and my marketing teacher at school told me about YEA (Young Entrepreneurs of America). I applied for YEA's Summer Startup program and was accepted. I then brainstormed a lot about what kind of company I could start and automobile detailing made a lot of sense.

 

Launch: What services does Premium Steam offer?

CJ: We mainly steam clean and detail car interiors, but also do exterior waxing and detailing. I have two employees now and occasionally bring in others as needed.

 

Launch: Why do you think you have what it takes to run a business now?

CJ: One of the things that YEA taught me was that my first business wasn't going to be my last. It is an iterative process. I've always been creative and have held previous leadership positions at school. More than just leadership skills, I have the determination to get things done, which I think is very important.

 

Launch: How much did it cost to get started?

CJ: My steamer lease is $100 a month so I was able to get the company started with just $100. From day one, we just went out and started cleaning cars.

 

Launch: How do you market the company?

CJ: Mostly through word-of-mouth and grassroots techniques. We do other things like help with parades and community activities. On slow days, we'll go to a neighbor and offer to clean their car for half price – anything to get work. We do such a good job, the people get on the phone and call all their relatives so that half-price job often turns into five new jobs.

 

Launch: We hear some of your classmates now ask you for advice on starting their own companies?

CJ: It happens all the time. They ask me how to get their T-shirts made and get other marketing materials started. I end up brainstorming about ideas together with friends and we've come up with some good ideas we may start together next summer.

 

Launch: What do you plan to do after High School?

CJ: I'm going to Utah State University and majoring in USU's new Entrepreneurship program and plan to also minor in Marketing Management. I plan on starting a business in Logan soon after moving to the city, but I'm not sure what yet. I need to see what the local market is like.

 

Launch: How has the YEA helped you?

CJ: I learned a lot of the basics involved with how to evaluate and identify good ideas and how to get them started. Working with other people who have started companies has really helped. Many people associated with YEA have great experience and advice.

 

Launch: Where do you see yourself in 20 years? Do you always want to run your own business?

CJ: Definitely. I want to work always for myself if possible. I think I'd like to end up with some kind of high-tech company.

 

Launch - Winter 2007

 

 

For the full "digital magazine" version of Winter 2007, visit: www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/growutah/launch_2007winter