"Cheerleader" by Macki & Company
Twelve year old Macki Alvarez-Mena painted cartoon characters on a couple of cavas tote bags and within days she had a sensation on her hands. Six months later those designs had developed into her own corporation with a permanent display at 225 Unlimited, Inc., one of the country's premier showrooms inside the AmericasMart in Atlanta, GA.
Always crafty and hands-on curious, Macki created a cartoon likeness of herself participating in multiple activities - shopping, swimming, playing sports, etc. Using those images she hand painted book bags for her two sisters who took them to school. The response was overwhelming. Classmates began ordering their own "Macki Bags" at the rate of 40 to 50 bags a week. Unable to keep up with the enormous demand, Macki (with the help of her mother) learned to transfer her ideas onto a computer format and began having her designs professionally screen printed.
A local gift store saw her designs and approached Macki to sell her bags at their store. Within weeks "Macki Bags" were their #3 top seller behind Webkinz and Hello Kitty. Macki & Company was immediatedly picked up by 225 Unlimited, Inc. and now sells around the country, including 8 stores in Florida and 26 more throughout the Southeast and New York. With the success of the tote bags, Macki & Company now carries 40 designs and has added stationery, tank tops and t-shirts to the line.
Twelve year old Macki is currently a 7th grader living in Miami with her two sisters and parents.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
