$250 Million For A 14-Year-Old's Big Idea: Origami Owl

All Isabella "Bella" Weems really wanted was a used car. That desire set in
motion a chain of events that led to the Arizona teenager spearheading what
is now a multi-million dollar enterprise that she may someday control. When
she finishes school, that is.Weems, now 17, is founder of Origami Owl, a
custom jewelry company whose direct sales business model turns would-be
entrepreneurs into salespeople and evangelists. The company, which she
founded in 2010 at age 14, generated $24 million in revenue in 2012 and
this year expects to reach $250 million, according to the company.
Origami Owl takes on independent associates -- known as "designers" -- who
buy products at a discount and then peddle them to others for a marked up
price. One of the favorite points of sale are "jewelry bars," or private
parties at someone's home or another venue operated by a "hostess" (the
hostesses get discounts and some free products too). The company has about
50,887 designers.