Pursuing Entrepreneurship in College: Balance, Passion, and Creativity
Written By Lily K. Lewis
Photos by Dana Mann
There is no one more kind and more talented than the owner of The Found Co, Abby Porter, a small business that sells funky vintage clothing and hand drawn cards and stickers. I’ve had the pleasure of having my small business, What’s More to Love, next to The Found Co at The Nine Oh Six for almost two years now. Both Abby and I became entrepreneurs in high school and opened booths at The Nine Oh Six while in college.
When asked about how she started her small business, Abby said, “I remember finding the reseller community on Instagram, and being immediately intrigued. Soon after, I visited a thrift store for the first time and was hooked! I started thrifting things, cutting them up, cleaning them, and reselling them. The rest was history!” As someone who also sells vintage, I couldn’t agree more that there’s something so magical about thrifting someone’s old clothes, creating something with your hands, and giving them new life.
“The Found Co’s mission is to play a part in reducing the insane amount of clothing waste produced each year,” Abby said. “By thrifting for people who do not have the time or energy, and showing people how fun, whimsical, and colorful fashion can be.”
With up to 92 million pounds of clothing waste being thrown in landfills each year, Abby strives to make her corner of the world full of bright colors, nostalgia, and vintage sourced from yard sales, estate sales, and thrift stores. When it comes to sustainability in fashion, second-hand clothing and materials are key.
Although it wasn’t her original plan, Abby loved attending college at Union. “I never thought I would end up going to college in my hometown,” Abby said. “But I’m so glad I did. I was able to stay close to my family, my biggest support system, while also living on campus, joining a sorority, and making so many wonderful new friends.” Abby majored in Digital Media Communications and minored in English, which has been helpful in running a small business.
One of Abby’s favorite ways her business and college experience intertwined was when she and her roommates hosted “closet clean-outs” in their dorm. Abby recalled, “We opened our door, spread the word, and while my roommates sold stuff from their closet, I brought out all of the finds I had been collecting. We had the most magical time making new friends on campus and connecting over second-hand clothing. I was so blessed with a community of people who not only supported, but celebrated my business. Right before senior year, I took a leap of faith and opened up an in-store location at The Nine Oh Six. While some might have thought that was crazy to do as a full-time student, my community consistently showed up at the store, followed along on social media, and encouraged me with kind words all the time. It made all of the hard work worth it.”
However, being an entrepreneur in college has both its ups and downs. Abby had seasons throughout her college career where she could not pour as much into her small business. She admitted, “I struggled with changing my major, adjusting to different jobs, finding the energy for anything ‘extra,’ and my business needed to take a back seat. Luckily, I had a really great role model for this season of life. My mom, a small business owner herself, always told me (and modeled for me) that it is okay to set business aside. Sometimes, it’s absolutely necessary for keeping it a joyful addition to your life. I did that, and came back to it stronger than ever when I had the passion and energy for it again.” Abby’s mom is one of her biggest inspirations and always told her that she can do anything, but also to remember to prioritize rest and family.
Similarly, I have struggled with balancing living in two different cities. I am majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and minoring in Entrepreneurship at MTSU, but I live in Jackson. Commuting back and forth for classes and running a small business in a different city, all the while keeping up with friends, family, and homework, has been really challenging. I’ve had to get really good at managing my time to fit my needs and turning my drive to school into a competitive advantage. Traveling back and forth has allowed me to source vintage clothing from many different places, especially Nashville, and bring unique items to Jackson from various cities. Being an entrepreneur in college is all about finding creative ways to make your business fit your schedule, and although it can be difficult at times, if you are truly passionate about it, you will find a way. It has been completely worth the struggle for me, because I have been able to support myself through What’s More to Love; I get to wake up every morning, grab a coffee, and do what I’m passionate about.
To anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur while in college, Abby said, “Do it, do it, do it! But be so intentional to prioritize balance. As a student, rest, community, flexibility, fun, and learning are really important. Being a small business owner is not always going to mesh well with those things, but you can make space for it all if you are intentional about it. If you feel overwhelmed, put it down for a moment and live your life. If you care about it, it will always be there waiting for you.”
Abby encourages anyone ready to pursue a small business to surround yourself with people who lift you up and support you in your endeavors; although it may not be your reality in every season, having people who care about and encourage your business makes a world of difference.
“Having an in-store location has been an absolute dream and has opened up doors to so many new things and new customers, but even before that, The Nine Oh Six made a special mark on my business,” Abby reflected. “Lakyn has been someone I looked up to in my community for so long. I remembered one time, back when The Nine Oh Six was at TheLOCAL, Lakyn said, ‘Abby, come set up outside anytime. Seriously.’ I will never forget that kindness. Someone I looked up to believed in me and made space for me. That was really special, and continues to be to this day.”
Lakyn has created a really special place at The Nine Oh Six. With her help, opening What’s More to Love in college was such an amazing experience for me. I was starting something completely my own and building it from scratch, but I was also able to travel back and forth to MTSU and be away from the store when I needed to. I’m so thankful for the space she has created that has allowed me to chase my dreams while getting my education. Starting my small business has been such a beautiful, and challenging, process that I wouldn’t trade for anything. My goal is to encourage people to embrace creativity and confidence through fashion and to be a part of a community that supports and uplifts one another. I have found that community with Abby and all the small businesses at The Nine Oh Six. There’s still so much growing for us to do, and I can’t wait to be there for it. There are many learning curves when becoming an entrepreneur, especially as a full-time student, but if you truly believe in the business you want to create, by all means, do it, do it, do it. The Found Co and What’s More to Love, and all the small businesses at The Nine Oh Six, strive to create a community where funky vintage and full hearts can be found in the clothes and confidence you put on every day. Come and see us!