Ben Littrell plans to turn his art position into business experience
By Anna Skinner
Ben Littrell, Purdue University sophomore and Westfield High School alumnus, spends his weekends posting flyers around Westfield, Carmel and Noblesville hoping to advertise the business he will be running this summer known as Student Painters.
A corporation called Young Entrepreneurs Across America oversees Student Painters. Littrell involved himself with Student Painters in hopes of aiding his education at Purdue, where he majors in sales and sales management.
Littrell originally began his college career at Butler University, studying pre-pharmacy, but he said he wanted a career with a position where the salary is based on how much work he puts forth.
“I have a lot more time to think,” Littrell said, referring to his new major. “It’s not so much based on course work, and it was a huge transition going from science and textbooks to learning hands on and communicating with speakers. It’s more of a major based off of what kind of person you are.”
Littrell first heard of YEAA and Student Painters through his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta. One of his older fraternity brothers thought Littrell had the perfect mindset and connected him with an executive of the company.
After landing the position of branch manager for Student Painters over the Westfield, Carmel and Noblesville areas, Littrell set out to market his business. With being in charge of marketing, payroll and site work, Littrell is currently focused on getting the word out about his business. He does so by passing out flyers and providing customers with quotes.
“Ben has spent endless hours flier-ing, cold calling, and simply working his tail off every weekend since January,” his mother, Sherry Littrell said. “While others stayed at school having fun on the weekends, Ben was coming home to work. His work ethic has been astounding with having not seen a cent. I am very proud.”
Littrell also is looking for high school seniors and underclassmen college students to fill the positions of the four teams working for him. He still needs about 12 to 15 painters.
During the summer when the Student Painters are working on houses, barns and other buildings, the customers do not pay 80 percent of the estimate quoted until after the job is complete. The customer will fill out a report that will then determine what the Student Painters are paid.
The Student Painters only do exterior jobs mostly on residential buildings, and Littrell said the teams use Sherwin Williams Super Paint. The payroll accounts are also linked through Sherwin Williams.
Although Littrell advocates for advancement through the Student Painters organization, his goal for next year is to use this experience to boost him toward internships more associated with his interest – such as selling for food companies.
There is nothing more important on a student’s resume than the experience bullet points. Student Painters provides an opportunity for Littrell to learn a number of skills; including professionalism, determination, time management and conflict resolution. Eventually, Littrell hopes this beginning experience of entrepreneurship will propel him to owning a restaurant one day.
“This internship teaches me the basics of how to lead, how to better others, and prepare myself for the ever expanding future of entrepreneurship,” Littrell said. “It’s making me a better individual and better well-rounded so I can understand the aspects of entrepreneurship and running one’s own business.”
Littrell said he is mostly excited about earning the firsthand experience that accompanies running his own business instead of sitting in a classroom learning from a textbook.
“I want to run my own business,” he said. “I want to interact with individuals and get on that relationship basis because I like interacting and having a large network. I don’t want people to feel like they’re going to work. I want it to be a fun environment.”
To contact Littrell with questions regarding applying for a Student Painter position or requesting a residential quote, e-mail him at [email protected] or call 694-4771.
Meet Ben Littrell
Age: 20
Birthplace: Indianapolis
Residence: Westfield
Family: Parents, Paul and Sherry Littrell, and brother, Carl Littrell.
Hobbies: “I enjoy long-boarding, love playing with my two dogs, Bear and Lucky, and just probably cracking jokes with the family. Plus home cooking is pretty sweet!”
Future goals: I intend to work for a Fortune 100 food company such as Pepsi-Co or Kraft as a sales representative or executive then use earnings to create a beer garden! If unsuccessful with the second part, I will pursue pharmaceutical sales combining my interests in sales with pharmacy. Pharmacy was my previous major while attending Butler University.
Personal quote: “If you don’t build your dreams, someone else will hire you to build theirs.”
