A Metro Atlanta Boy Living with Autism Starts Business to Spread Love
The Meaningful Journey of Blake Richardson
Here in metropolitan Atlanta, a young, inspiring figure wants everyone to understand and appreciate our unique differences. 7-year-old Blake Richardson, a delightful kid living with autism, is a beacon of inspiration to many. Initially nonverbal until he turned 4, Blake did not let his condition define him. Today, he is not only articulating his ideas clearly, but he is also the brain behind an inspiring brand eloquently titled ‘Bleu’.
An Innate Love for Lego Inspires a Business
Blake’s ardor for Lego is as intense as his fellow 7-year-olds – if not, even more. It was this passion for Lego sets that led him to kickstart his entrepreneurial journey. His mother, Nicole Woods, recalls how it started, “It started with Legos! The whole brand and business started with Legos. He wanted more Lego sets, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m not buying you more Lego sets, so what are you going to do to get the Legos,” she said.
Blake’s enterprise commenced with selling his drawings to raise funds for Lego sets, and soon, he decided to elevate his efforts by creating a brand of his own- Bleu. “
The Deep-Rooted Significance of ‘Bleu’
For Blake, ‘Bleu’ is not just an ordinary brand name; it signifies his life’s mantra- ‘Building love and embracing uniqueness’. He said, “Building love stands for making friends with new people and ‘embracing uniqueness’ means it’s OK to be different.“
Blake initiated ‘Bleu’ as a testament to his resilience and self-acceptance. He shared, “We started Bleu because people were being mean to me because I didn’t sound like them. I didn’t sound like them because when I was 2 years old I couldn’t speak. Now look at me! I help motivate people to follow their dreams and never, ever, ever give up!“
A Mother’s Persistence Rewarded
Nicole spoke of the days when Blake was nonverbal. All he could do was point and say a few words sporadically. Blake eventually began speech therapy when he was 2, and when the COVID pandemic hit, Nicole taught him herself. Her commitment to ensuring that Blake’s Autism did not entirely define him manifested when she said, “I was just like, it is not going to define who he is. And I wanted to do anything and everything to make sure that was what happened.“
A Brand That’s More than Just A Business
While ‘Bleu’ equips Blake with an avenue to raise finances for his beloved Lego sets, it is the brand’s message that matters the most to him. Emphasizing what drives him, Blake stated, “Some people think they start a business for the money and fame. But I just do it to help people, because that’s my favorite thing to do. And I mean all of it from the heart.” In a similar vein, Nicole asserted, “He just wants to make people realize that love is pretty much all you need.”
‘Bleu’ Expands its Reach
The whisper of Bleu’s inspiring message is beginning to echo throughout Atlanta, gaining momentum on social platforms Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube under the handle – bleubyblakelandon. The city can look forward to seeing more pop-ups, helping to spread Blake’s potent messages far and wide.
Unleashing Unique Potential Power
Blake’s remarkable journey stands as a testament to the untapped potential inside everyone, particularly individuals living with autism. His single-handed creation and management of ‘Bleu’ truly encapsulate his mantra of building love and embracing uniqueness.
