The summer of 2020 was boring for the three Sanchez brothers, who were cooped up due to the COVID pandemic. They were looking for something to do to make money and occupy their time. That’s why they started Brothers Unleashed.
The boys made dog leashes and decided to donate 10% of the profits to local animal charities. The oldest brother Andrew, is now in high school and too busy for the business, but his younger brothers, Marc, 12, and Nico, 8, are continuing the profitable project.
“We were bored during the pandemic, and we wanted to give money to pet charities, and so we started Brothers Unleashed,” Nico said.
Using a rope line, they measure the size, then use metal clips and a hand press to make the handle and insert the clip. Hot air is used to adhere a tape cover to the clips. It takes about five minutes to make each leash. The boys will spend an afternoon making 30-40 leashes that they sell at local markets and through their website. The leashes are also in some locations including Wholesome Hound, Pet Food Market, Goodness for Pets, and Shy Wolf Sanctuary. The boys make 4-, 6- and 8-foot single and double leashes. They will also make custom ones. The leashes come in six colors. The six foot long, red, white and blue, patriotic pup leash is their most popular product.
Since they started, they have donated $2,500 to local animal charities including Humane Society Naples, Gulf Coast Humane Society, ASPCA, Shy Wolf Sanctuary, and Golden Paws Assistance Dogs.
“It is honestly amazing; being such young kids, they have really been able to help us,” said Max Costanzo, director of development and fundraising for Shy Wolf Sanctuary.
Costanzo said the money will be used for everything from food and animal care to enrichments.
“We’ve been so honored to work with the young men behind Brothers Unleashed,” added Sarah Baeckler, CEO of Humane Society Naples. “Seeing such dedication and empathy in young people fills us with inspiration and hope for the future. This community really loves its furry family members, and projects like this help us to keep serving both the animals in our care and the community in general.”
The boys chose to make leashes because it fit with their desire to give to an animal charity.
“All of us love dogs,” Marc said. “We wanted to give to places that were no- kill shelters and also support pets as much as we can.”
The boys created T-shirts with their logo and their dachshund dog, Twix, featured on the back. Their slogan is “Buy a Leash with a Purpose.”
Parents Liz and Hector Sanchez are proud of their son’s entrepreneurship.
“We were supportive,” Liz Sanchez began. “They were so bored, and they would go on Amazon and say, ‘Can we get this’, and we said, ‘You can’t spend money without making money’,”
Their mother also likes seeing all the things the boys are learning. They use math to measure the leashes and make sure the handles are the correct size. They have learned to be more outgoing and businesslike. She said Marc was especially shy when the business began, but now he looks customers in the eye and speaks directly to them. She also likes the way it bonds the boys. Marc is the creator. Nico is not strong enough yet to use the old manual press. But the younger brother is more outgoing and is the real salesman when they are at local markets. Sanchez especially likes how the boys have learned to be more giving.
“We know we are very blessed,” she said. “They don’t want for much of anything.”
Brother’s Unleashed can be found on Instagram and Facebook. The boys are often at the bimonthly indoor Saturday Hand & Artisan market at Mercato. For more information go to brothersunleashed.com or
contact them at brothersunleashedllc@gmail.com.