On top of her 12 credit hour school load, Kara Forrest will be opening her second business today. And she is 19 years old.

Forrest, a sophomore majoring in marketing and advertising, will be the first one to admit she is crazy.

"I kind of have a problem," Forrest said. "I can't just go to school. I always have to be doing something."

Her second business, a frozen yogurt shop called "Provo Fro-Yo," has its opening kickoff party tonight at 8.

"She's a fun girl to be around," Kara's mother, Debbie Forrest said. "You never know what the next thing is."

When Forrest was a junior in high school, she started her first business, "Scrapbook Kits," where she put together page kits to make scrapbooking more convenient. With this experience, Forrest learned how to run a company and manage the requirements in starting a business.

As a senior at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Ariz., her achievements from her first business were awarded when she won a national entrepreneur scholarship called, "Girls Going Places," from Guardian Life Insurance. Out of 15 finalists, Forrest was awarded first place and was featured in Smart Money magazine.

"She is probably the quietest, most unassuming kid," Debbie Forrest said. "But she is the most go-get-them, get things done, accomplishing kid."

Forrest began her pursuit for entrepreneurship early in life. With the help of her dad, she learned how to buy and sell in the stock market, make investments, manage money and live in the business world.

Forrest even started her own school in her garage when she was 9, sending home school pictures and report cards with her students.

Forrest said her family's strict schedule helped her develop skills of work and discipline. Every morning they would have scripture study and family prayer, and then complete a list of chores before school.

Including the unofficial businesses Forrest has started, she would have three more to add to Scrapbook Kits and Fro-Yo.

During the summers while she was in high school, she set up a six-week nursery program, weekly scrapbooking classes and sports camp days for children.

In high school, she organized a 5K run in her community, which has raised money for Phoenix Children's Hospital and Mesa United Way, and continues to be an annual event.

Going to college and running a business is not a workload Forrest is unaccustomed to. In high school she single-handedly ran her scrapbook company while serving as student body vice president and a cross-country runner. She even managed to get the "Most Spirited" award as a senior.

"I really enjoy challenging myself and making myself learn," she said.

Childhood friend and roommate Breck Fielding said Forrest has always been very business-oriented.

"In high school people always said she would be the first woman president," said Fielding, a sophomore elementary education major. "She has the mindset that she can do anything."

Forrest said she has always had a desire to own her own business, and her parents helped her learn the skills needed to do so. Other training came from the business school's mentoring program, and from an entrepreneur lecture series class last year.

Forrest began to get serious about Fro-Yo over Christmas break, and started to research and plan for her business.

"It's something to do besides school," she said. "I mean, school's great, and I learn a lot, but at the same time I can't just sit in a classroom. It's been a lot of work, but it's been fun at the same time."

Forrest said at first it was hard to get people to take her seriously when she offered her proposal.

"I've gotten a lot of double takes," she said. "They're like, 'Wait, you? You're opening a business? Just you?'"

Forrest said she fought the stereotypes by being prepared and knowing what she is talking about.

She said having her own business gives her the freedom to do what she wants.

"It's a lot different than working under someone," she said. "You have more say, and you can make more decisions. What you think really matters."

Forrest said her friends would always go to a frozen yogurt shop in Mesa and she got the idea of opening Fro-Yo when she realized there were no frozen yogurt shops in Provo.

"It has been a lot of work to bring this frozen yogurt to Provo," Forrest said, "and to serve the community in this way."

She said she thinks her business is different because although there are a lot of ice cream shops in Provo, there is no frozen yogurt.

The frozen yogurt is non-fat and low fat, targeting the health conscientious people. Fro-Yo will also offer energy bars, energy drinks, fat-free gourmet cookies and 26 different yogurt flavors. For the not-so-health concerned people, Fro-Yo offers 15 different toppings and chocolate dipped waffle cones. Forrest said she hopes to expand the menu after the business gets going.

To keep customers coming back, she said Fro-Yo will have unique promotions, such as free toppings on Monday nights and holding fund-raisers and donating to various charities.

"I want people to be like, 'Lets go get some Fro-Yo!' And for it to be a fun atmosphere," she said.

Forrest said her prices for frozen yogurt are reasonable because she wants to give it to customers for the least possible price. She said she hopes to attract college students, high school students and families.

The kickoff party tonight includes live bands, free frozen yogurt and a raffle.

Forrest said she occasionally gets a reality check about the risks involved, but she said she is lucky to have a great family and friend support to back her up.

When she told her mom about her plans to start another business, her mom replied, "Can't you just go to school and graduate?"

"At first she was a little sketchy," Forrest said. "She didn't know if she should take me seriously. But now that she knows that I really am opening up a frozen yogurt shop, she's been really helpful and supportive."

Debbie Forrest said she could see her daughter's passion when she told her about Fro-Yo, and has confidence she will be successful.

"Whatever Kara has done in the past has been just exceptional," Debbie Forrest said. "So I would think the end result is just going to be exceptional."

Forrest is unsure about her future plans for Fro-Yo, but she knows she will always be an entrepreneur coming up with ideas and looking for new opportunities.

"I know that I always want to be doing something," she said. "Just be busy."



Copyright Brigham Young University 12 Mar 2004