An 11-year-old Canadian boy cried after being rejected by his first client; A few weeks later, his $10 trash can cleaning business has 40 customers and 100,000 followers.When school ended for summer break in May, Ashton Meyer began knocking on doors in East Gwillimbury, Canada, offering to clean out residents’ wheelie bins for ten dollars. Filming her daily door-to-door visits for Instagram and TikTok, the young activist gained over 111,000 followers on Instagram in two months and built up a steady group of subscribers.Their success comes at a time when teens are facing the toughest summer job market since 1948, according to an analysis reported by Fortune. High inflation, rising costs of living and slow business hiring have cut into common entry-level jobs such as shop assistants, lifeguards and babysitters, leaving young children looking for new ways to earn extra pocket money.
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learning from rejection
The project started when the mayor wanted to earn his money during the summer holidays. His father suggested local residents take out the cans and wash them on collection days, while Mayer decided to take the idea directly to the people by going door-to-door. His mother encouraged him to record his travels on camera.In his online video, the mayor approaches local homeowners with a simple proposition: “My name is Ashton, and I’m doing a service to clean out all your trash — including your trash, your green trash, and your recycling.”Rejection was part of the daily grind, but Mayer learned to overcome the initial hurdles.“I want to be an entrepreneur who has my own business,” Mayer tells Fortune.When potential customers say no, Meyer leaves his phone number anyway. “Take this, and you can call me if you need me,” he tells a neighbor on camera. “I’ll be here all summer.”While giving advice to other kids trying to find summer work, Meyer talked about the need to move forward and keep prices low.“The first ‘no’ is the hardest. Keep moving forward,” says Meyer. “Try and find a need that no one is meeting and see if you can do that. Ask your neighbors if they need any help – maybe it’s cleaning out the bin or weeding or watering their plants.”He adds: “Offer a good price when you’re a kid because you’re still learning.”
working even after summer holidays
So far, the mayor has earned $700 (about $500 USD) from cleaning trash bins. While many teens are struggling to find short-term work in a slow job market, Meyer plans to have his business running when school resumes in September.“I will definitely continue washing cans when the weather permits,” he says. “I plan to work after school and on Saturdays.”As the weather gets colder, he plans to change his services to continue making money. “I also like to rake leaves and plow snow during the colder months.”Mayer loves doing outdoor work and talking to people through his doorstep service.“I enjoy everything about my job. Going door-to-door is fun because I get to meet new people,” says Meyer. “It may be strange, but I really enjoy cleaning out trash cans. It’s gratifying to see them completely clean.”
Inspiring other youth workers
Small local ideas can turn into big businesses. Fortune cited Chase Gallagher, who started mowing lawns in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 2013 at the age of 12 for $35 a lawn. Ten years later, Gallagher’s Garden Care Company employed 10 people and generated more than $1.5 million in annual sales.By building a local client list and a large social media following, Mayer has made strong initial steps for future work. His online videos are also inspiring other kids around the world to start their own local services.“I’m amazed, it’s been so crazy, and I feel grateful,” Mayer says of his rapid online growth. “We’ve heard from people all over the world. Many parents have shown the video to their kids and it’s inspired them to start businesses, which is great.”
Daily setup and social media strategy
For his daily bin wash, Meyer walks around his neighborhood carrying a custom setup. He pulls a heavy-duty wagon filled with a portable pressure washer, protective rubber boots, special cleaning brushes, non-toxic soap solution, and tanks of clean water.Each task takes about 10 to 15 minutes per family. The mayor thoroughly blasts the interior and exterior of each waste container, scrubs away dried grime, and wipes down the handles before returning the disinfected bins to the resident’s garage or driveway.His mother handles the filming and administrative side of the social media account, making sure all interactions on TikTok and Instagram remain safe for the 11-year-old. The video captures raw, unedited moments of interaction with the neighbor — from candid disapproval on the front porch to joyful interactions with residents who praise her work ethic.East Gwillimbury, a rapidly growing town in York Region, Ontario, has proven to be an ideal location for the venture. The suburb consists primarily of single-family residential neighborhoods where homeowners have several large garbage cans in which odors and dirt accumulate during the summer months.