Entrepreneur Johnny Earle, a.k.a Johnny Cupcakes, visited AACC on Sept. 27 to advise students on different strategies to start and grow their own successful business.

Earle told the students attending his presentation, held in the Kauffman Theater, that he believes everyone should do more of what makes them happy.

“I think humor is so important to involve in the workforce,” Earle said.

Earle said he tries to give his customers an experience worth remembering when they come in to his store.

Earle based his business model around the littlest of details. The Johnny Cupcakes stores are designed similar to bakeries, smell like bakeries and display t-shirts in bakery-style cases.

“Take time to pay attention to those little details,” Earle said as one of his tips for a successful business.

Earle said his new shirt, “Where’s Johnny?” replicates the idea of Where’s Waldo? Each customer must follow Earle on Instagram to find Johnny wearing an original shirt with a Where’s Waldo? twist. Johnny could be found anywhere. When a customer finds him, they win a “Where’s Johnny?” t-shirt.

“I learned people like incentives,” Earle said.

Many of the t-shirts Earle sells are collectibles, only so many are sold and once they are sold out they are not retailed again.

Earle created the brand in 2002, selling T-shirts out of the trunk of his ’89 Toyota Camry. Currently, he speaks at professional events, large businesses and schools, advising others about entrepreneurship.

Earle was given his nickname “Johnny Cupcakes” when he worked at Newbury Comics, a record in Boston, Massachusetts.