Alyssa Ramsey sells bracelets, necklaces and anklets through ARL Pearls.[/caption]

Over the last year, 16-year-old Alyssa Ramsey has sold thousands of pieces of pearl jewelry to customers across the country through her business, ARL Pearls. The Cypress Christian School junior now sells her pieces at local business To the Nines as well, which recently became a vendor boutique.

Ramsey began making the pearl jewelry about a year ago as a hobby and found that she was giving away a lot of the pieces for free to her friends.

"I started making them for a profit and made a Twitter account and that was the first step," she said. "I didn't think it would get this big at all. We get at least three orders a day."

Ramsey eventually made an Etsy page for ARL Pearls and sells bracelets, necklaces and anklets through the website at www.etsy.com/shop/arlpearls. Prices range from $10 for pieces with single pearls up to $56 for a larger statement necklace Ramsey makes.

"People send me pictures all the time of things they see on Pinterest or Etsy that they want me to make, and I'll make it and start selling it," Ramsey said. "Most of my designs are my own; it just depends what the demand is."

Ramsey started selling her jewelry at To the Nines in late January. She searches for vendor boutiques online constantly, hoping to sell her products in a brick and mortar store. Her experience with ARL Pearls has driven Ramsey to consider going into business after high school, she said.

"I wanted to be an astronaut, then a vet, then a nurse, then a doctor," she said. "I didn't get the hint. I think [business] is my strong suit and my gift since this has been successful."

For the near future, Ramsey plans to continue making her jewelry on top of being a high school student and playing sports.

"I hope it gets really big and maybe I can start hiring people," Ramsey said. "Hopefully one day I can open my own boutique and have it based off my original designs, but maybe have it be a vendor boutique for more up-and-coming businesses."