Students had the floor to showcase their own businesses for the rst time at Ferris in the Student Business Expo.
Twelve students participated as vendors in the event Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the IRC. Money raised through registration costs beneted the Student United Way Campaign, Ferris Coordinator of Career and Volunteer events Michele Albright said.
Ferris nursing senior Allison Singer participated in the expo and runs an online Etsy shop called Undeniable Favors, where she makes products that showcase her religious faith.
“I really enjoy calligraphy, and I also really love God and my faith is really important to me. So, combining the two was just a fun way to be able to share my faith with others and encourage others in their faith too, and do it in a cute way,” Singer said.
Many of the student entrepreneurs at the event were excited to share stories of their business endeavors. Ferris information security and intelligence sophomore Deven Martin runs his own personal photography business.
“A good friend of mine told me that if you want something to be a business, then treat it like a business from the start, so I kind of went all in. I made a website, I made business cards and I started marketing myself as if I was an established business,” Martin said.
Many of the vendors felt that the student business expo was a great way to get the word out about their products and services.
“It’s great for me. When I was living is Muskegon, which is a larger town and more of an art community, it was a lot easier to find work and it’s been really difficult since I’ve been back in Big Rapids, so this is a good opportunity to break into the student space,” Martin said.
Ferris elementary education freshman Elayna Clow participated in the event to educate others about the company Juice Plus+.
“Juice Plus+ started during the juicing craze, and they wanted an easier and more cheap way of getting your daily amounts of fruits and vegetables into your diet,” Clow said. “After looking into it, I really did see that a lot of immune system problems are from a lack of nutrients that you’re getting through your diet, so I started trying these products and I think they’re amazing, so I decided to help others by selling them.”
People who may not like eating fruits and vegetables can still get their 30 fruits and vegetables per day though capsule form, which is why Juice Plus+ is a good way to help others, according to Clow.
“Right now, I’m just trying to help others. That was really my main point of this. It’s not about making money, it’s about showing others healthy ways to get their fruits and vegetables,” Clow said.
The student business expo raised about $200 in donations for the Student United Way Campaign.
“This was a great way to help our students promote their businesses as well as contribute toward the Student United Way Campaign,” Albright said.