For some Miami University students, school is more than waking up for classes on time and deciding where to go on a Friday night; it's juggling a full-time business while also going to school.

For Miami students Jeff Probst, Dan Mills and Kristin Elzey, their marketing decisions have a direct impact on their businesses, and a half-hearted C performance or a decision that isn't well-researched won't get them very far.

Probst is a junior marketing major with a minor in entrepreneurship who co-owns Blooms and Berries, a seasonal farm market, with his mother. Probst said Blooms and Berries was his father's original idea and a dream that his family opened in 1999. Located in Loveland, Blooms and Berries is a 10-acre farm that started out as a small "you pick" operation for fruit and has expanded to selling flowers, berries and pumpkins.

Mills, a junior studying strategic communication, came up with the idea for his business called Pocket Promotions in a global marketing class. Pocket Promotions is a unique text messaging service that students can sign up for online to receive messages about local events and specials. Pocket Promotions allows anyone to choose who they want to hear from, whether it is a club, sorority, fraternity, restaurant or bar.

Mills said the service is similar to group e-mails, but it's better because it is easier, quicker and more direct.

Elzey, who might be known by some as "purse girl," is also a strategic communication major pursuing an entrepreneurial minor. The sophomore started a handmade purse business called Kee Keepsakes.

Elzey said she has a creativity gene in her family and started designing purses, clothing and shoes with rough sketches from age five.

Elzey's Kee Keepsakes started in a less intentional way.

"In high school I sat down and decided to make a purse I designed using old ties from my dad," she said.

Her purse business officially started when a woman stopped Elzey's mother, who was wearing one of her purses. The lady said the purse looked handcrafted and asked how to get one. Starting out as word of mouth, Kee Keepsakes continues to grow. Elzey's purses will soon be featured in a new store uptown on High Street.

These students agree that juggling school and owning a business is very challenging but well worth the effort.

"It's like having a full-time job and being a full-time student," Elzey said. "It's very difficult, but inch by inch everything is a cinch. You just do what you can; it's rewarding to work hard and since I am passionate about this, it doesn't seem like work."

Elzey makes all the purses she sells, which takes three to four hours per purse depending on the fabric, size and complexity. Elzey recently

made her first hire to help a growing division of the business called purse parties. Groups of sororities or clubs can hire Elzey to run a purse party where she brings supplies and demonstrates how to make and design one's own unique purse.

Probst, Mills and Elzey think Miami's entrepreneurial program and business and communication classes have been great in giving advice and offering suggestions.

Mills took his idea out of his marketing class and decided to create it in the real world.

"I say, 'go for it,'" Mills said. "If you have an idea, just get out there and try it."

Mills said his professors have been great sounding boards for ideas and he is grateful for their support.

Probst said his classes relate very well to running Blooms and Berries.

"I feel like I am able to take my experience from running the farm to the classroom and relate the two back and forth," he said.

Classroom lectures allow Probst to use the concepts in class and try them in the real market with Blooms and Berries. Probst explained that in one class the professor discussed the importance of bringing and adding value to business. Probst took the concept and applied it to Blooms and Berries with its Fall Festival, which resulted in the past three weekends reaching record-level sales.

"The entrepreneurial program has been absolutely wonderful in helping me out," Probst said. "The business school is very supportive of what I want to do."

Elzey also raves about Miami's entrepreneurship program.

"My classes have definitely helped," Elzey said. "The business principles that I learn in the classroom are a plus to my business every day."

Elzey said she consults her professors with questions and they help guide business decisions.

At the end of the day, these students enjoy the work that makes all their sacrifices and efforts well worth it.

"I love what I do so much," Probst said.

After graduation, Probst plans to find a better location and turn Blooms and Berries into a year-round market that will specialize in fresh and tasty produce.

Mills said Pocket Promotions has been growing fast and many sororities and fraternities have found it a useful way to communicate to their members.

Elzey said she would love to continue the purse business after graduation, making it a full-time position. Nonetheless, she plans to maintain Kee Keepakes in her life whether it remains a full- or part-time job, or just a hobby.