Teen fashion entrepreneur from Lansdowne launches billboard in Times Square

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There's a saying if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. A 13-year-old from Lansdowne is hoping that will be true — the young entrepreneur's brand is on a billboard in Times Square and now, he's hoping to change the world.  Trey Brown is one of the faces of a campaign by Investco. He's featured in a TV and online commercial and as of this weekend, he's on a billboard in Times Square. 

THIS WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE‼️ MY FIRST BILLBOARD FOR SPERGO -- WAS IN TIMES SQUARE NEW YORK‼️EVERY THING IS POSSIBLE -- THANK YOU MR. TRACY @worldrider_janitor INVESCO @invescous MS. COLLEEN @booze_canoe MR. RICHARD @richbutterworthdocs THE ENTIRE CNN COURAGEOUS STUDIOS @courageous_studios FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN‼️SPERGO -- WILL BE GLOBAL -- - CEO TREY BROWN @iamtbflamez

A post shared by SPERGO (@spergobillionaire) on Jul 28, 2019 at 11:30am PDT

"I almost shed a tear because it's really, really incredible," said Brown. He is the founder of Spergo, a luxury, ready-to-wear sporty clothing line that includes T-shirts, sweats, shorts, fanny packs, shoes and more.

"Here's our ultimate, ultimate best seller," he said, showing off his family's porch turned Spergo boutique. 

Need a smile? My #GoodNews story for today is re @SPERGO3 - the 13yo's brand is now on a billboard in #TimesSquare! Watch #CBS3 tonight at 5:30 and listen to 1060AM am drive for more on the campaign meant to inspire! #stoptheviolence #youthentreprenuer #investcoqqq @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/NLtsS4PJe8

He said an idea came to him a after a 14-year-old was accused of shooting a 13-year-old in Philadelphia a few summers ago. Brown was just 12, but he decided to turn his love of fashion into passion with a desire to inspire.

"Spergo represents power, strength and courageousness," he said. "It combines the words sports and hero, and not superheroes, but my personal heroes from around the world. I added the letter G-O, because I am always on go!"

Brown founded the company and used the $178 in birthday money he received. He sold his first batch of 16 T-shirts in barbershops. Eighteen months later, he has a website and says he's sold 5,000 units.

"Everybody has a genius," said Sherrell Peterson, Brown's mother. "The question is what is yours."

A former seamstress, Paterson home-schools Brown and with the help of local and national mentors and hard work, the teen is making things happen.  

And many times, the outcome is much bigger than she could imagine.

"I am teaching him the basics," she said, "he is teaching me the impossible."

The visibility from the Invesco campaign is helping the company grow, but it's just one step. Brown said his master plan is to be an example to kids around the world.

"I just want to show everybody that you can do it," he said. "You don't need violence. We can all work together to make things happen."

Brown said he's eyeing Fashion Week and wants Spergo to become a household name around the world.

"I want it to be what you want to wear when you want to feel powerful," he added.