WICKSBURG, Ala. (WTVY) – Most high school seniors are focused on prom, graduation and what comes next. Izzy Thomas is already living it.
The 17-year-old Wicksburg High School senior owns and operates Wicksburg Nutrition, a nutrition tea and wellness shop located off Highway 84 near the high school. While her classmates count down the days to graduation, Thomas is managing payroll, ordering product, handling finances and serving a growing base of loyal customers — all before she turns 18.
From Employee to Owner
Thomas first walked through the doors of Wicksburg Nutrition at 15 — not as an owner, but as an employee. A year and a half later, the previous owner made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“I love this job. I love my team. I love the customers. I just love it so much. And I was like, of course,” Thomas said.
Because she’s still a minor, the business is legally in her father’s name — but Thomas runs every aspect of it herself: the bills, the payroll, the product orders. When she turns 18 in August, she plans to make it official.
“When I turn 18, I am going to buy it out from my dad, so it will be officially mine,” she said.
Entrepreneurship runs deep in the Thomas family. Her grandfather and great-grandfather built a business together, and her father owns multiple businesses. That foundation gave her the confidence — and the support system — to say yes.
A School That Said Yes
To make the business work, Thomas switched to virtual classes through Houston County Schools — giving her the flexibility to manage her schedule around the shop. Wicksburg High School Guidance Counselor Roger Sanders said the transition was simple.
“We made it quick and easy,” Sanders said. “I would think her story can show all of her classmates and underclassmen that if they just put their mind to it, there’s nothing that will stop them from doing what they want to do with their life.”
Thomas often does schoolwork between customers and spends several hours every Sunday at the shop — closed to the public, but not to her — working on menus, inventory and social media.
The Business Behind the Counter
Wicksburg Nutrition sells flavored nutrition teas, protein shakes, coffee and more. Thomas spends roughly $1,000 a week on product and says the shop brings in close to $10,000 in monthly revenue — with customer counts trending up every day.
She manages a team of six, opens six days a week at 6:15 a.m. and serves an estimated 40 to 50 customers daily.
The hardest part? Missing out on senior moments.
“Probably realizing that I’m missing some of the fun senior stuff. That’s definitely one of the hardest parts,” Thomas said.
But she says the trade-off is worth it — because of the people on the other side of the counter.
“I really try to do the best customer service I can and make them know that I care about them,” she said.
Regular customer Glen Baum agrees the atmosphere is something special.
“It’s always, ‘Hey you, what’s up, how you doing, what do you need?’ It’s just friendly. It’s welcome,” Baum said.
What’s Next
After graduation, Thomas will head to Enterprise State Community College to study hospitality, with dreams of becoming a wedding and event planner. But she’s not leaving the counter behind — she plans to keep Wicksburg Nutrition running for at least the next two years.
Her advice to other young people thinking about taking the leap?
“Definitely have a support system and a good team. And really just — everything you put in is exactly what you get out.”
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