Bailey Cherry’s changing the world, one book at a time

Meet Bailey Cherry from LaunchX’s 2021 class, taking the world of children's literature and sustainability by storm. Her non-profit, ReBooked, is not just any bookstore; it’s Hong Kong's largest secondhand bookstore for kids' books, dedicated to promoting sustainability and educational equity. Bailey's journey reminds us that - even one book at a time - we all have the power to make a difference as long as we take the initiative.

Launching into Entrepreneurship

Bailey always had a love for books. With her family’s overflowing bookshelves, she imagined how her beloved children’s stories could find a new home. What began as a simple idea to share old books launched into a platform for reusing preloved children’s books with ReBooked. And this was Bailey’s first taste into entrepreneurship; a simple step taken from her own home library.

Her next challenge was taking on the LaunchX program and spend her summer in a program that mimics the real-world startup environment. “The intensity and rigor of LaunchX—the short time frame you’re given to create and launch something—pushes you to produce high-quality work. It’s like a crash course in real-world problem solving and critical thinking.” The purpose of LaunchX is to encourage high school students to simply start, to take the first step and launch. Over the five week program, Bailey and her team launched EcoGo, a Hong Kong based one-stop platform for sustainable products. 

Fast-forward to today, her own company ReBooked has now collected over 200,000 books, resold 45,000, and given away more than 40,000 to kids in need. Bailey's leadership has even taken ReBooked global, with franchises in Turkey and Brazil and outreach programs in the Philippines.

What Does it Take to Run a Successful Venture?

For Bailey, being an entrepreneur is about creating and connecting. “I think an entrepreneur is anyone who can create and connect,” she says. “Most tasks in entrepreneurship involve creating something new or connecting ideas and people.” Entrepreneurship is a different world from the theoretical, academic world of high school education, where the challenge is to take action and execute.

Flexibility and adaptability are crucial in Bailey’s entrepreneurial playbook. “You have to be open to different options and go with the flow. Things might not go as planned, but you adapt and learn from it.” Whether it’s through EcoGo or ReBooked, Bailey’s journey underscores the transformative power of taking initiative and its role in achieving success and creating positive change.

The Impact of Entrepreneurship

“Before I started ReBooked, I was a lot less confident and eager to make a difference,” Bailey says. “Entrepreneurship changed how I saw myself and what I could do. It made me step up, be a leader, and be passionate about what I was doing.” Bailey's transformation speaks volumes about the power of taking initiative. By stepping out of her comfort zone, she discovered a new sense of purpose and confidence.

While gearing up to start taking action, Bailey reminds us that there’s no single path to success. “When you look at successful entrepreneurs, none of them followed the exact same path. With entrepreneurship, you can try your own way. If I look at my LaunchX classmates, everyone is doing their own thing and doing well. It’s so inspiring to see.”

For Future Entrepreneurs 

Her advice to future entrepreneurs is straightforward: take action and don’t be afraid to ask for help. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and make connections. Just do it. I used to worry about having the perfect idea or product, which delayed my progress. Be open to adapting, learning, and pivoting along the way.”

It’s touching to hear how inspired and self-assured Bailey is, three years after her time at LaunchX. From a passionate high school student with a love for books to a dynamic social entrepreneur,  Bailey Cherry’s journey is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship to create meaningful societal impact. It’s about confidence, adaptability, and finding your own path. Her journey reminds us that the possibilities are limitless when you empower yourself to make a difference, just one book at a time.

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