2008 Woodie Awards
Taking Care of Business
Three Miami University students own and operate their own ventures while being full-time undergraduates
Lorelei Pacholec
Issue date: 10/18/05 Section: Features
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."
"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."
