Ame’s Story
After being diagnosed with a rare brain condition, Ame discovered a passion for beading that became a source of hope and creativity. Her involvement with The Teenage Market has given her the platform to grow her business, regain confidence, and inspire her dream of opening a shop in her hometown.
Ame’s entrepreneurial journey began under incredibly challenging circumstances. Diagnosed with Chiari malformation—a rare brain incurable condition which has a range of severe symptoms —Ame’s life changed dramatically in the summer of 2023.
The condition was a shock and required her to spend a period of time in the Queens Medical Centre Hospital in Nottingham. During her stay, Ame discovered beading as a way to cope.
Inspired by Taylor Swift’s bracelet craze, she began crafting bracelets for the nurses caring for her. “I started beading to keep myself busy and distracted. I’d make bracelets for the nurses, and they kept telling me I should sell them,” she recalls.
What began as a way to stay positive during a tough time soon turned into something much bigger.
After leaving the hospital, Ame’s mother discovered The Teenage Market, and saw an opportunity for Ame to take her beading hobby to the next level.
Nervous but excited, Ame attended her first market in August 2023. “I didn’t know if people would like what I made, but the support I got was amazing.”
Customers quickly were attracted to Ame’s colourful creations, with people travelling to support her at different Teenage Market events across the whole of Lincolnshire. She has become such a big hit, that she estimates she’s made over £2,000 across 10 different Teenage Market events, which involved selling over £500 worth of bracelets and beads at the Christmas Teenage Market in Boston in 2024!
“The Teenage Market has helped me feel like myself again. It’s given me a lot of confidence and the chance to show people what I can do.”
Ame’s journey has been shaped not only by her resilience but also by the support she has received from her local community. A gift shop owner in Alford noticed her work early on and offered guidance on how to display her stall to attract customers and has helped her to grow her business.
This mentorship has been invaluable and has inspired Ame to dream big: “One day, I’d love to have my own shop, just like hers, and maybe even hire people to help me” she says. Ame’s vision for the future also includes a dedicated studio space at home and exploring silver jewellery-making to further expand her skills and create more of a product line.
She is also considering how to make her business more sustainable, and has started experimenting with wooden beads, instead of plastic, and using environmentally friendly packaging to reduce her businesses’ carbon footprint.
For Ame, The Teenage Market has been more than a place to sell her products—it’s been a vital lifeline in regaining confidence after her diagnosis. She is passionate about making markets accessible to all young people, especially those who face transportation challenges or lack support.
“It’s so important to have markets in more places, so everyone has a chance to show what they can do,” she says. Ame has seen firsthand how The Teenage Market connects people and brings new life to towns, with customers travelling from other areas just to see her stall.
Ame’s mother has been amazed by her daughter’s growth since starting her business.
“She’s grown so much as a person. She’s more confident, more independent, and so much calmer than before. The markets have given her something to focus on and a way to express herself.”