/ 202 COVER STORY / isabella weems
we both had the same very strong feeling that it was basically what we were supposed to do. It felt like a leap of faith, but it just felt like the right thing. So we did it.” Fast forward to today and Origami Owl has grown from three employees in a 3,500 -sq. -ft. office to upwards of 700 employees in Chandler. The company is based on a social selling business model and is currently the fastest growing social selling company in the country with more than 25,000 Independent Designers (also called Consultants) nationwide. “We’ve never been able to get comfortable because it’s always been a very quick, steady incline of growth,” Reinhart says. From the beginning, both in internal and external operations, Origami Owl has always placed a strong emphasis on being inspirational. “We always said we would hire or fire based on cultural fit for the company just to maintain a positive atmosphere,” Reinhart says. The flagship line, Living Lockets, is a customizable collection of charms and the newer TAGGED collection features inspirational tags with words like “Blessed, Love, Inspire, Believe, Gratitude, Happiness and Faith.” Customers can also choose Empowerment Tags that make a complete statement like “I Have Love” or “I am Blessed”. It’s no doubt that these positive messages and the inspirational attitude is a part of Origami Owl’s huge success. Of course, Bella was able to buy herself the jeep she dreamed of as well as help the dreams of many of the company’s Independent Designers come true. Many have their own wonderful success stories, like raising enough funds for college, paying for a great vacation or contributing to charitable causes. “We always say it’s one big family but honestly, the whole company is like one big family!” Reinhart says. 202
8 Questions for Bella Weems
Origami Owl founder, Isabella Weems, has quite the busy life! Besides school and founding her own jewelry line at age 14, she also enjoys dabbling in the performing arts. 202 Magazine caught up with the young entrepreneur to ask her a few questions.
202: How do you balance school and work? BW: In my life, school always comes first and then after school I am off to work at the Origami Owl office. 202: What advice do you have for other teen entrepreneurs? BW: Take a leap of faith, follow your heart and always remember you are never too young to achieve a big dream at a young age. 202: What are you most looking forward to post High-School? BW: College and continuing to be a force for good. 202: What is the biggest lesson you have learned from starting your own business? BW: Things don’t always go as planned but no matter what, you keep on smiling and enjoy the journey. 202: What was the moment you knew Origami Owl was going to be something big? When I rented a kiosk at the Chandler Mall on Black Friday and the success we had that day was shocking. I knew at that moment we had so ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? \??eL??????????????????????Q????????????????????????????????????????$????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????]???????????????????????????????????????????Y??????? \??$??????????1=Y?
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