Enterprising personalities, a flair for fashion and a dash of school spirit make up the recipe for success for two 麻豆原创 alumnae.
From bows to buttons, the journey to entrepreneurship for Loren Ferretti and Alexandra Gramatikas started at 麻豆原创.
Both women were on the hunt for clothing accessories that didn鈥檛 exist, so they decided to create a market for themselves with and ALTR button covers, respectively.
After struggling to find affordable options to wear to each of 麻豆原创鈥檚 home games, Ferretti developed Gameday Bows, a website that sells bows in school colors that can be worn at football games or anywhere. The bows were an affordable way to ramp up the school spirit of black, gold and white outfits she already owned.
鈥淭he bow creates an accent piece that can be worn on a number of dresses and adds the perfect pop of color to represent your school鈥檚 colors,鈥� said Ferretti, a 2009 marketing graduate who launched Gameday Bows鈥� web store this fall after receiving compliments on her bows and requests to buy them.
Now, she sews the bows herself and ships them across the country.
For Gramatikas, the concept for ALTR鈥檚 slip-on button covers came from a trying to find the perfect outfit for a themed party. She was in search of a traditional, preppy blazer with gold buttons. A jacket she already had worked, but the buttons weren鈥檛 quite what she wanted.
鈥淚n passing, I made a comment about wanting to change out buttons more efficiently, and from there, ALTR was born,鈥� Gramatikas said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been an unexpected surprise, getting into an industry I never thought I鈥檇 be involved with.鈥�
Gramatikas earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University before enrolling in 麻豆原创鈥檚 MBA program and graduating in spring 2012.
During her last semester, Gramatikas won the College of Business Administration鈥檚 annual Joust competition, which challenges entrepreneurial students from 麻豆原创 to develop business proposals and compete against one another in the hopes of being judged as having the most promising idea.
The business plan behind Gramatikas鈥� 麻豆原创-themed button covers won her the competition鈥檚 $10,000 prize and a year of support from the 麻豆原创 Incubator.
Experience inside the classroom and from internships also helped Ferretti get her company on track.
鈥淎s a marketing major, I was placed in classes that allowed me to participate in creating business plans and marketing plans鈥攖ruly hands on planning that I have utilized and continue to utilize with Gameday Bows,鈥� she said.
But starting your own company doesn鈥檛 come without small stumbles, both women said.
For Ferretti, she鈥檚 had to balance the responsibilities of operating Gameday Bows with her full-time marketing job. With ALTR, it took Gramatikas several months to get licensing approval for the logos on her 麻豆原创 and UF button covers.
Ultimately, the women encourage other self-starters to be bold and chase their dreams.
鈥淢y advice to anyone thinking of starting their own business is get out there and go for it. With proper education and planning, it鈥檚 possible to do,鈥� said Ferretti. 鈥淎lso, ask for help. I鈥檓 surrounded by marketing professionals daily that have encouraged me and enlightened me to things I never knew possible.鈥�
Gramatikas also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to recruit mentors and ask for feedback.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 talk about your idea, you won鈥檛 find the resources or get the feedback you need,鈥� said Gramatikas. With a product, you need to not get caught up in the fact that it鈥檚 your baby. It鈥檚 your business, and it鈥檚 important to be open to constructive criticism.鈥�