Students launch online businesses

Junior Annie Zhu launched her business in July, posting pictures of her melon-scented soap on Instagram. (Courtesy: Annie Zhu).

By Elliot DeJong,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Davis High junior Annie Zhu slowly pours the cooled lye and water into a simmering pot of fragrant oils, whisking them together with a hand mixer. She unscrews the cap of a pot of shimmering mica, sprinkling it into the marbled blend. She is making soap– and it’s not just for her own entertainment.

Earlier this summer, Zhu was growing restless during shelter-in-place and decided to find a hobby. She stumbled upon an online account of people making DIY soap. “I found [the soap] to be really, really pretty,” Zhu said. “After that, I just started making them.” 

Zhu researched recipes online and launched an Instagram page (@anis_soaps) to display and sell her soap. She had planned on creating an Etsy page once she started, but she then moved into a new house and never had time to set it up. 

Once the school year started, Zhu had to pause her soapmaking operation because of the amount of homework she had. “I usually spend six hours making one batch [of soap],” Zhu said. She simply didn’t have enough time.

Zhu plans on possibly restarting the business next summer, but is taking a break for now.

Like Zhu, senior Ana Fenton began selling her art on Instagram during lockdown. Fenton started her business to support UltraViolet, an intersectional feminist organization, by selling the art she didn’t want anymore.

She started the account @hersimplemagick and posted some of her work, which ranges from ceramics to embroidery, for sale locally. She continues offering her work on Instagram, and is keeping up with orders during the school year.

Fenton’s interest in art wasn’t new when she started this business. “[My mom] just kind of supplied my sister and I with materials [when we were kids],” Fenton said. She took various classes at the Davis Arts Center and throughout junior and senior high.“It’s pretty satisfying to make something that somebody enjoys,” Fenton says. “My hope is that it leads me to pursue … service work and art.”

Sophomores Evelyn Soller and Maya McClain started a Harry Styles embroidered apparel business early this September because they wanted to do something together in quarantine. Also, according to Soller, “we sort of started it to get Harry Styles tickets. A little bit.”

The idea for this business began when Soller texted McClain, suggesting they start a Harry Styles sticker business. “I thought she was kind of kidding,” McClain said. Once she realized Soller was serious, McClain considered the idea, but soon realized they didn’t know how to make stickers.

Wanting to make something bigger than stickers, McClain and Soller decided upon embroidered apparel. They launched Instagram, Etsy and Depop pages for their business, under the account name @onlydirectiondesigns, selling tote bags ($23) and shirts ($19) with Styles-related decals.

Using the funds from their business, McClain and Soller bought two tickets for Styles’ San Jose concert, one for his Sacramento concert, and are planning to purchase one for either Madison Square Garden or Sacramento.

College students are also interested in entrepreneurship. The Mike and Renee Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UC Davis provides business funding and learning opportunities for student startups in the form of the Little Bang and Big Bang competitions, according to Executive Director Joe DiNunzio. 

The Little Bang teaches high school and college students through three poster competitions, and the Big Bang helps students develop a complete business model with a series of classes. According to DiNunzio, the grants range from $500 to $1,500 and up to $20,000, respectively.

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