Addison Conely and Ava Oliver have been best friends since kindergarten. But now, as middle schoolers, age 12 and “almost 12,” the two besties have gone into business together.
Ava and Addison make bracelets, which they sell direct to customers and through Addison’s mom’s store, Going Local NC. The duo takes the money they earn from sales and donates it to saving animals.
“When my mom opened her shop, we really wanted to create something to sell,” Addison said.
Ava and Addison are actually no strangers to the business world. The two began with successful lemonade stands in their neighborhood. After one particularly successful sale, the girls decided to give the money to a veterinary clinic.
“A lot of people are helping people,” Addison (who has one dog) explained of their decision. “We want to start donating to help animals.”
“I really want to help and donate for the animals,” Ava (who has three dogs) said. “I want to help all wildlife and all animals, but especially dogs.”
Addison and Ava immediately formed a tight bond when they met. The two share that what they love about each other is how “silly and funny” the other is. They giggle, laugh, and encourage one another. Perhaps not surprisingly, both girls say that they want to be veterinarians when they grow up – although Addison also says she wants to keep doing art.
Designing, creating, and selling bracelets evolved for the ladies. They stumbled into Addison’s mom’s charms and beads one afternoon and realized how much they loved to make jewelry.
“Just before Christmas, we thought, we should make a business!” Ava remembered. “And we decided to give it a really classic name: Ava and Addison Jewels.”
Their jewelry is bright, colorful, and many are strung with inspirational words. Ava and Addison find that their customers tend to like the color teal and shimmery beads the most. The two also want to create a signature charm to attach to their creations.
The bracelets are sold out of Michelle Conely’s Going Local NC location in Mayfaire Town Center. Originally, the shop was a pop-up for holiday shoppers, but starting March 1, Going Local NC will be re-opening and permanently operating out of
“I just love seeing how adventurous [Addison and Ava] are,” Michelle Conely shared. “It brings out their creativity.”
As for Addison and Ava, the fact that they get to work together, create something they love, and give
“I am really excited about what we are doing,” Ava shared. “I really feel like we are going somewhere.”
You are invited to follow Ava & Addison Jewels on Instagram (where you can direct message Ava and Addison to purchase a bracelet).
To learn more about Going Local NC, visit goinglocalnc.com.
Going Local NC will re-open March 1,