Amber Shriner has an iguana, two bunnies (who have had 20 babies), 9 cats, 2 dogs, 2 mice, a turtle, and a new entrepreneurial venture. Quite a full slate for a clever 12-year-old! Amber, also known as the CEO of Kool Bags Sold by a Kool Kid, recently launched a new online business that promotes going green and from which some proceeds are going to benefit charity. It is because of her entrepreneurial compassion that we are pleased to name Amber Tonic’s Hero of the Week. I spoke with Amber earlier today about her entry into the green business world. “My older brother had a business and I was really jealous. My grandma said I could start one of my own when I turned 12,” Amber told me. And that’s exactly what she did. Her grandmother, Cynthia Jones, had used Kool Bags for years — they are reusable thermal insulated grocery bags that keep groceries and other items hot or cold for up to three hours. Amber saw an opportunity to help market these very green bags and help a cause in the process as Amber is donating 10% of her proceeds to the 2009 Winter Special Olympics that will be held in Boise, Idaho (Amber’s home). Amber gave me plenty of reasons to purchase my own Kool Bag. “With Kool Bags, you don’t have to use paper or plastic. Paper means cutting down trees and plastic becomes a glutton for landfills and dangerous to marine life.” She also explained that the product will help you save gas. Because the bag is thermal, you run all your errands in one drive without fear that the ice cream you just purchased will melt. She reminded me that Kool Bags will also help me save time “since you can also stop and have lunch with a friend during the same trip to the grocery store.” Once the bags wear out, Amber suggests recycling them by putting them over garden plants in the winter or lining cupboards with them. She even lined her turtle Biscuit’s cage with old Kool Bags — “They keep the heat in his cage.” While Amber’s flying high with her business, she sounds even more excited when we start to discuss animals. Her father used to work as an animal control officer and she told me he used to let her see all the animals he would pick up, including a bald eagle. “I would do anything to help animals,” she promises me. In fact, she would like to work as a vetrinarian assistant when she is older. As we wind up our conversation, she asks if I would like to hear her 10-second mission statement. “Grandma calls it my elevator speech.” “Sure,” I tell her, thinking that she really has done her homework. “Hi, my name is Amber Shriner. I sell Kool Bags — which are reusable termal insulated shopping bags. They buy you freedom and save you gas.” Wow. I wish I had Amber in my work groups when I was getting my MBA — her brevity and messaging is a much-needed addition to the green business world! If Amber hasn’t already convinced you to purchase a Kool Bag Sold by a Kool Kid, check out her site here. You can also order directly from her site. Quite amazing! Photo: Greg Kreller/Idaho Press-Tribune If you have nominations for our Tonic Generation’s Hero of the Week, please email me at dan@tonic.com. The world needs as many heroes as we can find!
