Hustling as a Kid

On my way home from work I spotted two kids in suits, hustling outside in the sweaty Australian heat. As I got closer I realised the boys—one of which was sat on a ten-inch-tall plastic stool peeling a mandarin, was trying to sell Tommy Hilfiger ties to the hundreds of last-minute Christmas shoppers on George St.

Of course this got my attention and made me stop and take a look. The first thing I saw were their hand-drawn signs, one of which read: OSCAR + TOBYS Pocket money tie shop (card accepted)

The other sign read: REAL NEW HILFIGER TIEs

After taking a look at some of their dusty, crinkled-up, Christmas themed stock that looked like it was bought secondhand at your local op-shop for $2 each, I smiled, and laughed at the earnestness and drive in these two kids.

I dug through their crate and searched their rack until I found a tie I liked. The older of the two kids—which bear in mind had to have only been ten-years-old, then pulled out his phone, opened the Square app, and took my payment—and just like that Oscar and Toby had made a sale. Cha Ching! Oscar & Toby

I love supporting people I see trying—especially because these two boys reminded me of myself when I was thirteen and sending cold emails to skate brands asking for free stickers I could resell at school.

I still vividly remember how excited I was after bringing in a wad of stickers to my new high-school peers and offering them something they could stick on their shiny, brand new HP laptops, before selling out and making $100 in a single lunch break.

Ha, good times.