Seven siblings, ranging in age from 14 to only 2 months old, have banded together to form a company that sells decorations for Christmas and the winter holidays.  The young entrepreneurs started their company as part of a homeschool project to learn about business and were taught and guided by their parents, who also run their own business.  Each child has a title, job description and company sweatshirt complete with screen-printed names and titles, as well as an integral role in helping the business to function and become profitable. 

Fourteen-year-old Kevin Kahle, the oldest, is the company president and spokesperson, leading his team of brothers and sisters as though he already holds a Harvard MBA. 

Jessica, 11--year old secretary and bookkeeper, keeps track of all the finances, writes checks for advertising and other expenses and keeps notes for the growing enterprise.

Vice-president Matthew, just 9 years old, already has aspirations of growing the business far beyond where they are currently.  While the business operates mostly on a door-to-door and telephone order basis, Matthew wants to some day open a storefront for Holiday Enterprises.

"I can't wait until we get that store," he said.

Stephanie, 7, and Brian, 5, the administrative assistant and demonstrator, respectively, are responsible for handling business cards, showing the products and helping in the production line.

The two youngest partners, Amanda, 1, and 2-month-old Peter, are considered "Partners-in-Training," and according to Kevin, have already helped sales with larger business by smiling and being cute at the appropriate moments. 

"She [Amanda] smiles and people buy from us," Kevin said.

The Kahle kids started their business last year after being frustrated selling wreaths for a company called Wreaths of Maine the year before.  They were selling the wreaths at $40, but only bringing in a $5 commission on each.  The kids decided they could make more money going into business for themselves and with a $300 loan from their parents for start-up supplies, sold almost $3,000 worth of merchandise last year.

"I remember people saying, 'I don't want to buy from a big company, I want to buy from you guys,'" said Matthew.

This year they expect to triple their business from a year ago thanks in large part to new expansions to their business in the form of five wreaths designed by and named for each of the oldest business partners.

That idea was Stephanie's brainchild who wanted to make a wreath with candy.  Once she produced her creation, a traditional greens wreath covered with candy canes, lolly pops, gumdrops and chocolates, the others followed suit coming up with unique ways to decorate the traditional holiday wreath.  Of course, the kids still offer a wreath of plain greens with a large red bow, which they call the Heritage Wreath, and encourage others to come up with their own ways to personalize it.

The kids spend one or two days a week going from one business to the next selling their products.  Their mother, Catherine, does all of the driving since none of the business owners are old enough yet to enjoy that privilege.  She does not interfere in their sales pitch, in fact, she does not even follow the kids into the business to which they are trying to sell.

"Basically, that's what I spend a lot of time doing, driving and sitting and waiting," she said.

Her young entrepreneurs always make sure to take care of their chauffeur.

"Every time we have to buy Mommy something to eat," Stephanie said.

Holiday Enterprises now offers six different wreaths, two styles of candle holders, two holiday greenery door spreads, a pinecone table decoration, called the Tri-Pine, and has made numerous custom decorations for businesses and restaurants. 

"If people can customize a car, we can customize a wreath," said Kevin.

Each product offered by the kid-owned and operated company is handmade in the family shop and personalized with a business tag offering the company name and web address where further information on the company can be found.

"We kind of took over Daddy's shop," Kevin said.

"Soon we'll be taking over for the whole year," added Matthew.

The kids chose the name Holiday Enterprises so there would be room for expansion into other calendar holidays.  Kevin said he would like to get into selling for Thanksgiving and possibly Easter of next year.  He has plans to design and market a line of Easter strand lights and other holiday decorations.  The Kahles also want to develop a webstore for next year.

"There's so many possibilities out there, once you find the right one, people will like it," Kevin said.

Business has grown so much the Kahle kids have even begun to take on salespeople and are looking for more.  Each will be paid a commission on their sales and have the opportunity to become part of what could become a historic business conglomerate.

While sales are important and most interesting for older siblings, Stephanie and the younger business partners said they prefer the design and production phase.

"Customers like brilliant, dazzling products, but you don't want it to be too gaudy," Kevin said of the design phase of the business.  "People like things they've never seen before."

Like any good business, the Kahle kids recognize they do have competition, especially among other kids.  They said the Boy Scouts, their greatest competitor, are also out selling wreaths at this time of year.  Kevin said Holiday Enterprises wreaths should touch a larger consumer pool because they offer a variety of choices, are more durable and are more moderately priced.

Another obstacle the kids have come across are skeptics who say they should not be making this much money for themselves.  The Kahle kids simply brush that aside saying that the money is earmarked for much more than propagating the business.

"Kids should make money for themselves," Kevin said.  "Shouldn't our money go to ourselves and our future?"

New to the business this year is a philanthropic venture.  The Kahle kids are donating a portion of their profits to a fund that will support treatment and research into pediatric Lyme Disease.  Since two of the children have Chronic Lyme Disease, the family believes people should be better educated about the tick-borne disease and are working to make that belief a reality.  Some larger businesses have even made direct donations to the fund.

Even though Holiday Enterprises is run by kids, they have an incredible business sense and set of customer service skills.  Matthew, the young vice president, made that clear when he said, "I want our customers to be happy and satisfied and not think we're just a junk company."

For ordering information or to make a donation to the Lyme fund, contact the Kahle kids at holidayenterprises@hotmail.com or visit them on the web at www.holidayenterprises.net