Loss of dog leads to local teen's start-up business

ASHEBORO — Mila-May Nichols can trace her success in business to the loss of her childhood dog. 

Now, at 16 years old, she has a new dog and a business that’s helping her save money for college.

“It started four years ago when I was 12,” Mila said on Aug. 29 while she was celebrating the business’s fourth birthday with a vendor pop-up at The Exchange in Asheboro. Mila Made was created to sell her handmade jewelry.

Mila (which rhymes with vanilla) had received a bracelet kit for Christmas and began making simple friendship bracelets. Then the family dog, Zoey, died of cancer.

“I wanted a new dog but my father said, ‘You buy it,’” she said. “I thought maybe I could sell the bracelets to make money to buy a puppy.

“It took less than two months and I bought a goldendoodle named Winnie. She’s like my best friend.”

Mila said she sold the bracelets to family, the neighborhood and school friends. She found plenty of support from the community.

With help from her mother, Christi Nichols, she was able to create even more bracelets, handbeaded jewelry, a charm bar and pop-ups.

“Now I have a table at Maker and Merchants at Asheboro Mall,” Mila said. “It was two years ago and I was one of the first vendors. I was the youngest, just 14, and everything had to be under Mom’s name.”

Mila Made products have also been displayed at the Asheboro Fall Festival and events at Denton, Eagle Springs and Thomasville.

Asked if her business was profitable, Mila said, “It makes a lot of money.” Besides allowing her to go shopping, she’s also saving for college. 

Mila’s mother Christi said the event at The Exchange was an effort to celebrate Mila Made’s fourth birthday. But they wanted it to be more than a birthday bash.

“Instead of making the day just about Mila Made, we invited other local small businesses to join us for a big community celebration with boutiques, a bloom bar, hat bar, sweet treats, giveaways and more,” Christi said. 

“As her mom, it’s pretty emotional looking back at that 12-year-old girl sitting at our table making bracelets and seeing what she has built four years later. Our Asheboro community has played such a huge part in her story.”

In total, there were 11 vendors at the Aug. 29 event.

Mila Made products can be found at Maker and Merchant at Asheboro Mall. They’re also displayed on Facebook and Instagram.