Milford entrepreneur, 16, builds glittering brand

Brandon Connor holding up samples of the colored device casings his company makes. Brandon Connor holding up samples of the colored device casings his company makes. Photo: (Contributed Photo) Photo: (Contributed Photo) Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Milford entrepreneur, 16, builds glittering brand 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

MILFORD >> Brandon Connor, 16, is confident he’ll have enough money saved by June 2015 to pay about $90,000 cash for a red Ferrari — and he isn’t earning it flipping burgers.

The young entrepreneur, a junior at Foran High School, six months ago founded BC Luxury, a company that provides personalization and customization of iPhone and mobile device housings and accessories, including a pricey 24-carat gold number.

He started on $1,000 raised through selling a few belongings, has at least one celebrity client already and has struck a deal with major jewelry store chains to promote his brand. So far Connor has sold more than 25 of the gold-plated numbers for $1,500, including to famous Albanian singer Bleona. He has marketed his product through social media, mainly Instagram, where he has 12,500 followers and plans a push on Twitter for 2015. He also recently designed and launched a webpage.

“We’ve been really busy,” he said, noting that his product is popular at area schools such as Lauralton Hall and Fairfield Prep.

Customers can get the aluminum housings on their phones changed to “any color in the rainbow,” and even 24-carat gold plating — which consists of more than a gram of gold. Phones can be cosmetically altered through engraving and other processes such as electroplating to reflect favorite colors, teams, designs and exotic touches such as python skin (yes, the real thing) or crocodile (synthetic).

Connor found his niche when he broke his own cell phone screen and saw how expensive it was to replace at the mall. Instead, he did it himself and moved onto experimenting with modifications.

An honor student, founder of Foran’s student investment club and a DECA member, Connor comes from a family of entrepreneurs.

His dad, Daniel Connor, along with his mom, Sonia Connor, run a successful medium-sized marketing firm and his grandfather, owned an insurance company and a ski mountain, starting the company after returning from service in World War II without even a high school degree, Connor said. He declined to name the businesses.

“My parents are already successful and I kind of want to build on my own success,” said Connor, whose favorite classes are marketing and entrepreneurship. “It’s my personal preference to try to create my own name.”

As a youngster Connor wanted to be a U.S. Marine, but as he grew older, decided to carry on the family legacy of “self-employed entrepreneurship.” He could have easily borrowed the start-up money needed to build inventory and market the product from his parents, but chose instead to sell a guitar, watch and other personal belongings.

“It feels better. I created my own success,” he said. “It’s not like I was baby fed.”

Connor said he most admires his grandfather, Martin Connor, describing the elder Connor as “courageous, determined, respectful.”

Connor said he has competitors in Europe, but aside from charging too much, they require the phones to be purchased through them as well, while he doesn’t.

While he has a manufacturer and graphic designer, Connor said running the business is a full-time endeavor, as he oversees answering emails, shipping, customer support, new collaborations, social media and more.

“In between classes, I’m on my phone trying to run it (the business),” he said, noting he’s always thinking he could be doing more. But it doesn’t appear his academics have suffered: he has a full course load — no study halls — and his classes include two Advanced Placement courses, macroeconomics and government. No matter how huge his business success is in these early years, Connor hopes to attend Quinnipiac University “in case the economy shifts, so I have a backup.”

At the rate the business is growing, Connor, who says he’s a good saver, and gets rides from friends at the moment, is confident he’ll be giving them rides in style by June 2015.

Connor can be reached via email at BCluxurySales@gmail.com.