Lucas is nailing his business dreams

Fourteen-year-old Lucas Lane is a young entrepreneur running his own business, Glossy Boys Nail Polish for Lads (an inclusive gel nail polish brand). He appeared on Australian TV series, Shark Tank, and was the youngest Australian to do a deal with the Sharks. He was also named one of the 2023 Inside Small Business Top 50 Small Business Leaders and was a winner of the Most Impactful Entrepreneur of the Year for the Young Change Agents’ Teens in Business Awards 2023.

How and when did you start as an entrepreneur?

I went to a giant pink pharmacy when I was 12 years old. I found the shelves of nail polish confusing and didn’t understand why the simple black nail polish I wanted to buy could be so hard! The whole time I was searching I didn’t see anyone that looked like me or anything that looked like it was made for me. When I got home I painted my nails with normal nail polish, waited ages for it to dry and then went for a skate – and disaster struck! It was wrecked. I started talking to Mum about how I’d like nail polish to be welcoming for guys and what I could do to make that happen, and Glossy Boys was born.

How much time do you spend on your business?

I spend at least two to three hours on the business a day, sometimes more depending on events. I’ve often had to wake up at 4.30am to do radio or something and then keep working until close to midnight to finish shooting product. We’ve gone viral a few times; it gets pretty hectic when that happens. It means I’m packing orders until really late!

What has been the biggest hurdle in getting this far as an entrepreneur?

Just keeping going after things go wrong, generally keeping consistent. It’s constant work to run a business. You have to be prepared to wake up really early and work late into the night and really put yourself out there.

What’s your greatest ambition?

To help people all around the world to be themselves and express who they are freely.

What was your happiest moment?

Walking off the set of Shark Tank after securing $75,000 and three investors all on national TV.

Of what are you most proud?

I am proud that I’ve created a product that can change people’s lives in a small way.

What would you say to encourage other young people to achieve their goals?

People will believe in you – you just have to follow through and act on it. You’ll be surprised how many rad people want to help you.

If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?

For people to love who they are and accept others.

If you could be another person, who would it be and why?

Tony Hawk (pro-skater), to be rich and be able to do nearly every skate trick in the book!

Name something a coach has taught you that you’ve never forgotten.

How to shake a hand. I learnt that from my old school vice-principal, Richard Wright, at CCGS (Christ Church Grammar School), and I use that skill pretty much daily.

A huge one was how to pitch and create a pitch deck to investors with Rebecca Loftus and Nicole Gazey, founders and my mentors at IDEA Academy. They made a complicated thing understandable and supported me all through Shark Tank and getting my investors on board (they are Davie Fogarty from Oodie - oversized wearable blankets and accessories; Jane Lu from Showpo - an Australian online fashion retailer; and Dr Catriona Wallace from Responsible Metaverse - an organisation and international movement dedicated to supporting the development of the metaverse, or virtual worlds).

What talent do you wish you had?

Being an awesome guitar player.

How do you spend your spare time?

Skateboarding, playing my guitar, watching YouTube and eating.

What is your least favourite food?

Meatloaf. My mum is pretty talented at business, but her cooking is not so great.

What’s your favourite . . . ?

Music artist: Slayer, Metallica and Pantera.

Item of clothing: Cargo shorts, rad nail polish and band tees.

Food: Pasta and tacos.

TV show: Gravity Falls and Goosebumps.

Smell: Anything my dad is cooking.

AFL football team: I don’t watch football but I follow Perth Wildcats basketball and in 2023 I gave the game ball away at their Pride match. It was super cool.