The Texas A&M McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship will host its spring Student Marketplace event to showcase Aggie business owners.
On Saturday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the market will feature 24 students with small businesses selling a variety of products and services at 1700 Research Parkway. Visitors can expect vendors selling products like baked goods, candies, condiments, custom glassware, custom art, personalized nails and even industrial-grade floor coatings.
For the first time, the marketplace will happen during Aggieland Saturday, A&M’s largest open house event. The event will offer free parking, or visitors can use bus No. 5 en route to the Bush School.
Recreation, parks and tourism senior Logan Russell is the founder of Runners High Cookies, which sells gourmet-style cookies and cookie cakes. Russell said he encourages other students to view the creativity of Aggies at the market.
“You should attend not just to shop local,” Russell said. “It’s to support fellow students who see a problem in the area and are trying to present a solution with their product.”
Supply chain management sophomore Neharika Vajinapalli, owner of Made2Polish, sells custom nail art. Vajinapalli said Aggies should attend, especially with Valentine’s Day right around the corner.
“I think everyone should attend because you’ll definitely see a lot of different products, and you’ll always be surprised by what people come up with,” Vajinapalli said. “Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so you’ll be able to get a lot of different gifts for people.”
Animal science and poultry science senior Charlize Altedill, founder of The Lucky Girl Shop, offers a wide variety of customizable products. Attending the market for her first time, Altedill said she hopes to have a memorable experience.
“I hope that attending the market that I’ll be able to really get my product out there and connect with people on a more personal level,” Altedill said.
Science and communication senior Annabel Lee, owner of originALs by Annabel Lee, sells artwork. Lee said she has attended the market multiple times in the past.
“How cool is it to have all of these Aggie entrepreneurs and businesses from so many different walks of life?” Lee said. “You really get to meet all of them face-to-face. Being in that environment and in that setting of all of these Aggies supporting one another, you really can’t replicate that.”
Visitors can view the full list of vendors on McFerrin’s website.
