Building a Business
The ins and outs of student-run businesses
Madalyn Willis
For many college students, school days are packed with difficult exams and lengthy papers. Add extracurricular activities like intramural sports, part-time jobs and academic clubs into the mix, and suddenly it's challenging to find students who have time for anything but school.
Despite the challenge, some Miami University students have found time to pursue other activities and make money while doing it. They've learned how to follow their passions, serve their community and keep up their grades all at the same time.
Carly Wendling, a junior supply chain and operations management major, and Audrey Stevens, a junior marketing and entrepreneurship major, run a spray tan business called Sunnyinox.
“We have always dreamed of starting a business together,” Stevens said. “Last year, Carly was going to get a spray tan at Palm Beach Tan and asked me to join her because she was nervous to go alone. We realized that the machines were not customizable to different colors and often missed angles which left an orange tan."
The girls went that same day to buy all of their own spray tan supplies and start practicing. Their spray booth is located in the hallway of Wendling's apartment, and they store all their supplies in a nearby bathroom.
Sunnyinox serves approximately 50 customers per month. Their business gives students a cheaper and more accessible option than large chains, making them a popular alternative. They typically book in increments of 15 minutes, though a spray only takes about 10. Since Wendling and Stevens are also students themselves, they work hard to balance their academics and their business.
"We prioritize class and other commitments first and make our schedule based around those," Wendling said. "School during the day, clubs in the early evening and business at night."
Their customers tend to follow a similar schedule, so Wendling and Stephens said that being available to tan people at night is a necessity. Large chains that offer spray tans often close early in the evening, but Sunnyinox serves students past 11 p.m. upon request.
Last semester, Wendling and Stevens made around $2,750. They charge $20 per spray, and about half of their clients tip $3-5. A typical week of business for the girls includes around 10 to 12 sprays, which averages out to approximately five hours of work per week.
Wendling and Stevens have learned that running a business can be difficult logistically, especially with no prior experience. Figuring out the little things such as scheduling, finding customers, and picking the right products can become time-consuming.
"When you are just starting it is a lot of trial and error, so we just had to be flexible and realize that we can constantly grow and adapt," Wendling said.
Another student business, The Stamped Poppy, has also gained popularity at Miami. The custom stamped rings and keychains business is owned and operated by sophomore Tara Grambo, an emerging technology in business and design major. Grambo operates out of her dorm room. She discovered her passion for jewelry stamping, which involves hammering designs into metal, over quarantine.
Grambo found a video of jewelry stamping and decided to try it out. Since then, she has transported all of her supplies between Oxford and Cleveland to work from both locations. She also offers shipping and has sold her products to 15 different states, ranging from coast to coast. Grambo works three to 10 hours per week on average, depending on her schoolwork. The profit she makes directly reflects the hours she puts in that week.
However, one disadvantage Grambo has faced is worrying about other people living in the dorm.
“Stamping rings is noisy," Grambo said. "Last year, I would stamp my rings in the common area of my dorm because I was afraid to disrupt anyone. I have a wooden platform, a rubber block and rubber under my steel block to try and reduce noise."
Grambo entered her first year of college as a kinesiology major on the physical assistant track. She worried that college was not for her because she felt lost and didn't know why.
"After realizing that I was lacking a creative outlet, I decided that I needed to consider changing my career path," Grambo said.
"I love what I am doing, and I wouldn't have discovered that I was on the wrong path if it wasn't for the realization that I need to let myself be creative."
Finding a hobby that also makes money was the best of both worlds for Grambo. She not only learned how to predict and order supplies, budget finances and market the brand, but she also learned about herself and her community in the process.
"I get to meet so many new people," Grambo said. "I offer local pickup at my dorm, and I love when I get to meet the faces that ordered a ring from behind a screen."
Some of Miami's student businesses have expanded past campus. Urban Luxe, a women's lifestyle fashion brand, has grown quite popular since it opened in January 2020. With over 30,000 Instagram followers, junior fashion entrepreneurship and emerging technology in business and design major, Sophia Blasi founded the business and has found success.
"The e-commerce brand is a fast-growing retail destination for women that have an urge to go out of their comfort zone and find their personal style," Blasi said. "We pride ourselves on affordable, yet unique pieces and long-lasting relationships with our clients and giving them the best experience possible."
Many women on campus wear pieces from Urban Luxe. Some of her hottest items include the zebra flared pants, leopard crop top, and wavy sweater pants. Blasi said that pieces with fun and funky prints are selling the best. Even though she is a student herself, picking clothing that her target audience would like can be strenuous.
"The hardest part for me was probably continuing to find inspiration while being in a small town like Oxford," Blasi said. "There's just not much to observe and learn in terms of fashion and art. I try hard to travel as much as possible and constantly keep up with virtual fashion shows, social media and other cool platforms."
Urban Luxe operates entirely online. Blasi averages around $8,000 a month in sales and has sold to all 50 states and five countries. Blasi said that taking on an entrepreneurship role in school comes with downsides.
"The hardest part right now is still being in Oxford and being in school," Blasi said. "Miami is a great campus, but I feel like I am just ready to be putting my mind on Urban [Luxe] 24/7 while not having to worry about getting good grades or doing homework."
While everyone's story is a little different, these business owners all have one thing in common: Their passion and hard work have allowed them to create something that they can carry with them into the future. Whether their business turns into a full-time career or it closes after their time at Miami ends, the knowledge they have developed will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
