Student-Made Troy opens for fall semester

Gribbenn Crafts display in Student-Made store. Sydnee Pennington photo

Punctuating a campus-wide positivity among students settling into the fall semester, the Student-Made Troy storefronts reopened on Aug. 21 to support the entrepreneurial spirit of student-owned businesses and brands. This return marks the organization’s continued celebration of their returning student creators, as well as new faces wishing to invest in their own businesses.

Student-Made Troy was founded through the cooperative efforts of the Troy Idea Bank and Student-Made Store. The store seeks to aid young entrepreneurs in the creation of new businesses and the growth of existing ventures. They offer an environment where student-made products and services can find a customer base via their website and downtown storefronts.

Jamarion Willie-Hughes, a junior electronics engineering major from Huntsville, Alabama, worked with Student-Made Troy in many positions since the store opened in 2024. Though he acted as their community engagement manager and more recently as their campus manager, Willie-Hughes began this relationship through his own business, a custom clothing manufacturing service called A Baller from The Ville.

Willie-Hughes spoke about the number of creators involved this year as well as the variety of their products.

“We have 12 active creators as of right now, though we’re expecting to get 10 more in the process of them going through training - they sell anything from cosmetics, nails, clothing, earrings and bracelets,” Willie-Hughes said.

Deftly made handicrafts are not the full breadth of services their student businesses can provide, as Willie-Hughes explained.

“If there is anyone who wants to do hair and lashes or be a barber, maybe they do photography or sell custom paintings – if you want to promote your service, we do that as well,” Willie-Hughes said.

Student-Made's storefront by the IDEA Bank in Downtown Troy. Charles Nelson photo

As part of the opportunities Student-Made Troy offers to its participants, members such as Willie-Hughes adopt managerial responsibilities to help facilitate the cooperation among the various businesses working in concert with one another. He is joined by Shania Williams, a senior studio-arts major from Phenix City, Alabama, who serves as Student-Made Troy’s marketing manager.

Williams remarked on her time with Student-Made Troy and the process of developing her brand.

“I began with Student-Made in October of last year, and in that time, I’ve had nothing but the best support in making sure my business and my skills as a business owner are being improved,” Williams said.

In addition to making intricate, colorful bracelets for sale in the storefront, Williams operates Shania Captures, a photography company where students can have their picture taken in a friendly, nonclinical environment.

This business variety continues with Ariana Guzman, a junior global businesses entrepreneurship major from Guntersville, Alabama, who, in addition to serving as Student Made’s events and partnerships manager, owns and operates the floral arrangement company ArisDesigns.

“I actually started the business with my parents about 10 years ago,” Guzman said. “When I decided to go to college to learn how to develop it further, Student-Made helped me to better expand and operate my business – to have a better business plan and financial structure.”

A parallel story is found with Amelia Bair, a sophomore studio arts major from Wetumpka, Alabama. She developed Bair Necessities, her crochet goods and bookmarks business, after being introduced to Student-Made Troy via her friends in Art Club.

“That’s what drew me to [Student-Made],” Bair said. “I knew I was going to be able to relate to the other people.”

One of the most common concerns about starting a small business is the nature of success and whether young entrepreneurs can prosper. Bair addressed these concerns.

“Even if you aren’t seeing success in sales, you can still see people engaging, actually looking at your products and saying they like them – feedback is also a type of success,” Bair said.

Griffin Earles, a senior graphic design major from Troy, Alabama, and Student-Made Troy’s website manager, owns Gribbenn Crafts, a handicrafts company with a vast catalog of earrings, bracelets, keychains, necklaces and graphic prints for sale. He plans to further evolve his business within Student-Made, merging Gribbenn Crafts with his design business, Griffin’s Graphics. Earles shared words on his ongoing development.

“It’s been a journey, figuring out how to do all of it, and it’s been great having resources that can help me figure that out,” Earles said.

Earles further elaborated on his satisfaction with Student-Made.

“The hardest thing for the entire process is just starting – you just have to overcome that obstacle because once you start it and push yourself along in that process, you’ll be there at the end and look back and think, wow, it really didn’t take that much,” Earles said.

Student-Made Troy will remain open throughout the fall semester and plans to hold a variety of events to mark holidays and academic milestones. Interested students can interact with Student-Made Troy online by visiting studentmadetroy.com and their Instagram @studentmade_troy.