Young Entrepreneur With a Big Heart

Meet seven year old Quinnley Bruce, also known as ‘Scrunchie_QS’ on Instagram.

This average little grade two student not only caught my eye as one of Cochrane’s youngest business owners but also for her philanthropist qualities at such a young age.

Receiving a sewing machine as a present, Quinnley decided to turn a hobby into a full-fledged business. “I got a sewing machine last Christmas, and I wanted to come up with something to sew. My mom told me about scrunchies, and then my grandma came over and taught me how to do them.”

Selling her creations at this year’s Cochrane Farmers’ Market as well as yesterday’s Christmas Market at the RancheHouse, Quinnley’s scrunchies have become quite the extracurricular activity. Taking her about ten minutes to make a scrunchie from scratch, Sara, Quinnley’s mom, says this past Saturday alone she made close to sixty. “I like some prints like Harry Potter, and I sell them to all ages.”

Donating ten percent of her profits to charity, Quinnley says, giving to the Cochrane Humane Society makes perfect sense to her. Already gifting the Humane Society $160 in products since May, Quinnley says she loves animals. “I want one so bad, but my mom won’t let me. So I thought if I helped pay for some things, it would help her think I should have one.”

Selling close to 250 scrunchies at yesterday’s market, Quinnley is quite the inspiration, shares her mom. “I am pretty proud of her; she works really, really hard. She has two younger brothers, so she wants them to know how important it is to have a little business and give back.”

Saving the remainder of her profits for a trip to Mexico, the seven-year-old also enjoys figure skating and attending the weekly Awana program at Bow Valley Baptist Church.

Quinnley will continue taking custom scrunchie orders HERE up until the week before Christmas. In the meantime, you can visit her table at the Points West Market (60 Fireside Gate) this Saturday (November 23) from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and the Cochrane Christmas Farmers’ Market at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre on December 14 and 15.