You Can Do Anything with Duct Tape...Just Ask Micah Coleman!
MIcah Coleman, an E CITY Alumnus and student at Garfield Heights High School, embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and has found a niche in designing products from duct tape. It all started one day while Micah was spending time at the library and began folding paper and doing Origami. His friends really enjoyed his paper projects and soon his paper folding became more and more creative. One day it occurred to Micah that he didn’t have a wallet and wanted one. “I asked my Mom to buy one for me but she kept forgetting to do it.” Finally he decided to put his paper making skills to use and made himself a wallet out of paper. It wasn’t until one of his friends brought duct tape to school that Micah realized he could use his Origami skills to make projects out of duct tape. “I went home and played around with the idea and made what actually became the first of Micah’s Wallets. I made compartments so that I could put little fake credit cards and my library card in it and I made an area that could be opened horizontally to hold dollars…just like a real wallet. Plus, it was basically waterproof.”
In spring of 2008, Micah’s mother, Darlene Coleman, began looking for summer camps and programs that Micah could get involved in. “Every year she made sure I was always on my feet.” Darlene heard about E CITY from a friend and wanted Micah to take it to improve the entrepreneurial skills that she knew Micah already had. “Honestly, I did not want to be a part of the program at first but as we sat through the orientation I figured it was for the best.” Micah took his mother’s advice and signed up for the 2008 E CITY Summer BizCamp at Cuyahoga Community College Metro Campus. The BizCamp was taught by E CITY teacher, Rodney Decipeda, who was named one of NFTE’s 2009 Teacher's of the Year.
When it came time to develop a business plan, it was an obvious choice for Micah to create, Micah’s Wallets, a business in which he could sell his handmade duct tape wallets. “At one time, I considered the making of duct tape items a hobby, but thanks to E CITY and my coach, Mr. Alec McClennan, I learned how to turn this talent into a moneymaking opportunity,” says Micah. While his main focus is school, Micah continues to make wallets and has spoken with several store owners about the possibility of selling his wallets in their stores. During the E CITY program, Micah was most impressed with the way the teachers, coaches, and E CITY staff treated the students like adults and really enjoyed the student selling events. “I believe students should take the E CITY program because it will challenge them and expand their knowledge of the business world.”
Micah looks forward to his future and whatever training and business opportunities come his way. “I am going to continue to set goals and recreate my business plan as needed.” Micah is glad he listened to his mom and took the E CITY class. “Because of E CITY,” Micah says, “I gained the confidence to stand before a crowd and present my business ideas.” Maybe there is some merit to the saying, mothers know best.
**If you're interested in purchasing any of Micah's duct tape products, please contact Nicole Lawrence: 216.373.7802