On May 29th and 30th, students from art classes and the Business and Entrepreneurship class debuted their businesses and products at lunch in the quad. Each business was given a table to display their products and fliers, and used QR codes, websites or presentations to promote and market their businesses. 

At the Business and Entrepreneurship fair, student-run businesses consisted of products and trades such as stuffed animals, jewelry, second-hand clothing, student-designed clothing, photography or video editing.

While starting a business is optional within the business and entrepreneurship class, this specialized fair allowed students who have created businesses from their class to utilize marketing, promotional and sales skills on a larger school-wide front.

Mara

Many businesses at this fair, such as Mara, utilized student created websites or designs to promote their product.  

Mara is a clothing business run by senior students Vera Riabova and Maile Nichols. The name “Mara” itself is a combination of the owners’ names. Their business specializes in creating and distributing high-quality class of 2025 senior merchandise, and at launch, their primary market is the HBHS senior class. 

“We created our website recently, originally we launched it on Instagram and promoted it on our personal accounts, and that’s how we got our friends and classmates to buy them,” says Riabova. 

In creating their business, Riabova and Nichols intended to produce a versatile product capable of adapting to a widespread audience while maintaining brand appeal.

“Our brand colors are navy blue and grey, and they only say class of 2025 on it. There’s nothing that says Oilers or HBHS on it, it can even be a college senior or a different high school senior. We plan on potentially expanding it to parents, to buy it for a gift, or even for middle schoolers that graduate middle school in 2025. There’s a large audience we can reach here, and we can keep it versatile and digital,” says Riabova.

In terms of the creation of Mara, Vera and Maile have put in hard work to create their business and product, all while participating and learning about entrepreneurship in Mr. Schwab’s business and entrepreneurship class. 

“Me and Maile put in a lot of work outside of school. Mr. Schwab makes sure our projects are student-run, he gives you the opportunity to take initiative, which is really nice,” says Riabova.

For the fair itself, Vera and Maile took the initiative to promote their product with a visual display of their hoodies on a clothing rack, a mirror for buyers to use for trying on the hoodies and references to their website and brand, in which customers could purchase their own Mara class of 2025 hoodie. They also instructed their customer base who had purchased a hoodie through pre-order to pick up their hoodies at the fair. These packages were decorated and designated to each buyer, exemplifying the brand’s prestige and luxury.

“Our goal is to sell out the first 20 we’ve got. We’ve finally broken even, so now we’re actually making a profit, because we spent a lot of money to make the hoodies,” says Riabova.

As for the future of Mara, Vera and Maile are optimistic about the continuation of the business post-graduation, and are open to the possibilities of new products and branding.

“We plan to keep selling them through our webstore, and maybe get some new colors or a custom design option, maybe even for class of 2026,” says Riabova.

You can find Mara on their Instagram @mara_apperal, or through their website maraapparel.itemorder.com. 

OdyandPen

In addition to businesses operated by business and entrepreneurship students, many costuming, art and ceramics students took to the tables at the fair to display and sell their pieces. Among these students, sophomore student Zoe Ferguson featured her business OdyandPen, which sells stickers, up-cycled clothes, prints, earrings and perler designs. 

As a student of Mr. Harward’s commercial art class, Ferguson practices and refines her skills within that class and brings the products of these creations to life through her business.

“I took art classes when I was a kid, and I’m currently in commercial art, but the vast majority of the skills I use are self-taught. Mr Harward has been a huge help in motivating me and helping me diversify my style and skill set,” says Ferguson. 

As an entrepreneur, Ferguson bases her business on both product sales and custom commissions for her art.

“My goal when starting it was to receive 5 commissions, which I have since achieved, and am now aiming for 50,” says Ferguson.

The business and entrepreneurship fair not only supported the students who took the business and entrepreneurship course, but also allowed creators like Ferguson to establish their business and display their hard work. 

“One highlight from the business and entrepreneurship fair was definitely hearing people walk by my table saying they liked my art or that it was all super cute. It made me really happy that I was able to share my work with people, and they enjoyed it! I’m so glad I got to participate,” says Ferguson.

If you wish to support Zoe Ferguson’s business or request commissioned work, you can find her business on Instagram @OdyandPen.

Chrysalis Clothing

Clothes were a big highlight of the business and entrepreneurship fair, whether it was up-cycled pieces, designed apparel or second-hand goods. Senior costuming student Zoya Sanati debuted her business, Chrysalis Clothing, which sells up-cycled thrifted clothing. 

“I’ve wanted to start a business like this ever since I joined APA my sophomore year. I got the chance to start it thanks to the business and design program at our school,” says Sanati.

By combining the skills she has refined in both costuming and business and entrepreneurship classes, Sanati has created an authentic and inspired business model that showcases the fusion of hard work and creativity. 

“Costume design taught me how to upcycle and the importance of recycling fabric. I made two upcycled wide leg jeans using three pairs of jeans, by seaming one fulling and using the fabric to make the legs wider on the other two pairs,” says Sanati.

If you would like to see Zoya Sanati’s business and products, you can visit her Instagram page @chrysalisclothing_ where she posts up-cycled pieces for sale.

From inspiration, to visualization, and finally to creation, each business at the business and entrepreneurship fair showcased each student’s passion, hard work and dedication to their craft. With each product or idea, these students have contributed to their peers, school and community, and from the assistance and practice within the HBHS business and entrepreneurship and arts courses, they will carry these lessons into professional careers and businesses of their own.