“They are fun and quick to make,” said Gina Upholzer, the 9-year-old behind the idea. “At school we make them for fun sometimes and we give them to each other.”
But this little entrepreneur isn’t keeping the dough. She’s donating it to the breast cancer organization Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.
Gina’s father, Joe, recently signed up for the fundraiser. When Gina found out, she wanted to help.
“She decided on her own that she wanted to do something to contribute,” Joe said, “and she came up with this idea. We couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Gina has sold about 30 of these purses within just one week, but some of her newest sales are from an unexpected place–at least for a nine-year-old.
For just $5 a piece, her Duct-Tape creations have hit eBay. With the help of mom, anyone can nab these clutches in hot pink, teal, zebra stripes–just about any color.
“It’s been pretty good,” Gina giggled. “I keep getting orders, so I have to keep doing them.”
Her sales on eBay end on March 26, but her father said the response has been overwhelming.
“Not only is it a cool product that a lot of people tend to like nowadays, but its a way to raise money,” he said. “It’s a great idea.”
Contributing to the cancer organization has even more meaning to Gina.
Her biggestion motivation is her grandmother, Teri Rinaldi, who was re-diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in 2009.
“It can be hard, but the support has been amazing,” Teri said. “You know, when she told me about these, I thought, what could they be? being made out of Duct Tape. They’re kind of cute. Throw it in your purse. I mean, who would know?”
Gina hopes her idea will stick to the fashion trend for a while.
“I like making them for people because it’s really an honor to make them for people and do them for my grandma too,” Gina said.