Enterprising personalities, a flair for fashion and a dash of school spirit make up the recipe for success for two University of Central Florida alumnae.
From bows to buttons, the journey to entrepreneurship for Loren Ferretti and Alexandra Gramatikas started at UCF.
Both women were on the hunt for clothing accessories that didn 麻豆精品 S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 UCF 麻豆精品 S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.
麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 colors, 麻豆精品 S� said Ferretti, a 2009 marketing graduate who launched Gameday Bows 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檛 quite what she wanted.
麻豆精品 S淚n passing, I made a comment about wanting to change out buttons more efficiently, and from there, ALTR was born, 麻豆精品 S� Gramatikas said. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 been an unexpected surprise, getting into an industry I never thought I 麻豆精品 S檇 be involved with. 麻豆精品 S�
Gramatikas earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University before enrolling in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 MBA program and graduating in spring 2012.
During her last semester, Gramatikas won the College of Business Administration 麻豆精品 S檚 annual Joust competition, which challenges entrepreneurial students from UCF 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 麻豆精品 S� UCF-themed button covers won her the competition 麻豆精品 S檚 $10,000 prize and a year of support from the UCF Incubator.
Experience inside the classroom and from internships also helped Ferretti get her company on track.
麻豆精品 S淎s a marketing major, I was placed in classes that allowed me to participate in creating business plans and marketing plans 麻豆精品 S攖ruly hands on planning that I have utilized and continue to utilize with Gameday Bows, 麻豆精品 S� she said.
But starting your own company doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 come without small stumbles, both women said.
For Ferretti, she 麻豆精品 S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 UCF and UF button covers.
Ultimately, the women encourage other self-starters to be bold and chase their dreams.
麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 possible to do, 麻豆精品 S� said Ferretti. 麻豆精品 S淎lso, ask for help. I 麻豆精品 S檓 surrounded by marketing professionals daily that have encouraged me and enlightened me to things I never knew possible. 麻豆精品 S�
Gramatikas also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to recruit mentors and ask for feedback.
麻豆精品 S淚f you don 麻豆精品 S檛 talk about your idea, you won 麻豆精品 S檛 find the resources or get the feedback you need, 麻豆精品 S� said Gramatikas. With a product, you need to not get caught up in the fact that it 麻豆精品 S檚 your baby. It 麻豆精品 S檚 your business, and it 麻豆精品 S檚 important to be open to constructive criticism. 麻豆精品 S�