Tucson Standard

Wildcat creativity will soon be showcased as Student-Made Arizona launches this fall. The online marketplace is a collaboration between Arizona FORGE and Student-Made, offering students a platform to promote and sell their products and services.

Student-Made began in 2017 at Elon University in North Carolina. Co-founder Lindsay Reeth, then an Elon student, observed classmates struggling to start small businesses from dorms or apartments. "I wanted to create a positive place for students to explore their creativity and to reach an audience in the campus community," Reeth said.

The first pop-up market was held at Elon University in 2017. Now, Student-Made partners with over a dozen universities across the U.S., providing customizable online retail spaces for students to sell goods like photography, tailoring, or tech support services. Arizona State University launched its own platform last year through this partnership.

Reeth explained that Student-Made operates as a two-part program. Initially, it helps partner schools set up an online marketplace for student entrepreneurs. Once established, operations are transferred to a seven-member student management team. This structure helps students understand business operations better by managing social media, events and partnerships, finance, and strategy.

Among those participating in Student-Made Arizona is Tommey Jodie, a fourth-year student double majoring in nutrition and food systems and food studies. A beadwork artist inspired by her surroundings in Winslow, Arizona, Jodie will also serve as the management team's community engagement manager.

Jodie appreciated the networking aspect of Student-Made: "I see butterflies with such vivid colors everywhere, and I want to incorporate that."

Arizona FORGE is partnering with Student Made at the university level. FORGE stands for Finding Opportunities and Resources to Grow Entrepreneurs and supports education, startup acceleration for students and community business ventures.

Julie Barbier Bularzik from FORGE stated that Student-Made Arizona gives students who may not have seen themselves as entrepreneurs the chance to do so: "This program will give them the opportunity to develop original ideas and original products."

FORGE is working with UArizona Trademarks and Licensing on branded goods production while exploring potential partnerships with various departments within the university.

"I look forward to identifying student entrepreneurs in different corners of campus," Barbier Bularzik added. Applications are currently open for students interested in selling goods or joining the management team through the Student-Made Arizona website or via email.