Before I became a senior going off to college, I was a young entrepreneur, running a hustle on the playground. It was my double life just as much as it was others. In fact, the competition was rough and always had a new product. If any first, second, or third grader owned a rainbow loom bracelet kit, then they were apart of the most powerful monopoly: the Rainbow Loom rubber bracelets. 

As complicated as the rubber bracelet business was, the actual Rainbow Loom kits were beginner friendly, which explains its rise in popularity. One kit came with a hook, loom, pack of tiny rubber bands, and instructions. Much of the classic designs were found in the instructions packet, but for more advanced and intricate designs, Youtube was the place to go.

After awhile, kids began to get the hang of the designs and produced a multitude of bracelets. As a matter of fact, they had too many to keep to themselves, so what was the solution? They turned to starting a business. The playground was the perfect location. Customers of various ages, such as third, second, and first graders, all in the same area. It was a gold mind. As a result, rubber band bracelet sellers formed groups like they were political machines during the gilded age of industrial America. The rainbow loom bracelet business couldn’t stay contained in recess. I even recall sitting in a language arts class and seeing a kid shouts across the room, “Aiden, did you want your bracelet blue and black or blue and purple?”

When everybody grew up and moved to the intermediate school, the Rainbow Loom trend died. Fidget cubes and fidget spinners took over. Today, I still get flooded with the memories when I lay my eyes on the loom. While I personally don’t plan on becoming an entrepreneur in the future, I can still say I have experience in competitive business. Too bad I can’t put any of it on job resumes.