SUCCESS STORY: STUDENT-MADE MICHIGAN STATE
Thanks for checking out this feel-good success story from one of our campus partners, Lori Fischer from the Burgess Institute– who was instrumental in launching Student-Made at MSU, and achieving this success so far.
I have worked on establishing entrepreneurial programming at MSU since the program’s inception in September 2012, and each day brings new challenges that motivate me to create opportunities and programming for our students.
We are continuously seeking ways to promote our resources across campus, as the Burgess Institute serves all the colleges across the entire campus community.
We welcome all ideas, from fashion to food, technology to nonprofits. We believe that anyone can be an entrepreneur, as long as there is a passion to try.
We also believe that makers and creators are entrepreneurs. Student-Made provides a platform for people who might not have considered themselves entrepreneurs, turning their creations into a revenue-generating business.
Our Student Made Events & Partnerships manager, Yuktha Pulavarthi, (first-year Hospitality major) researched potential collaborations across campus and arranged a meeting with the managers of our campus markets.
The culinary services team was impressed with Yuktha’s presentation and excited to support student creators. It has been a dream of MSU creators to have their products in a physical store. And our Student-Made partnership helped make this possible– as they helped with promotional materials, licensing requirements, and organizing inventory among many different students and products.
The two locations are very popular spots on campus — 1855 for the students, and Kellogg for friends and family of Spartans staying at the Kellogg hotel, or for guests visiting during conferences.
This has given us much exposure to other student organizations on campus.
More orgs now want to collaborate with Student Made MSU! A few creators were even reached out to by the official Michigan State Instagram after seeing their products in the markets. The MSU account posted and shared some products which gave the creators many more followers and sales.
Working as a vendor in these popular markets, our student managers learn about accounting, inventory, retail promotions, and managing many different businesses. Organizing pickups, restocking, and keeping up with inventory has been a real learning experience.
Our Events + Partnerships Manager, Yuktha works closely with their various merchandising managers creating schedules, inventory lists, and POS (point of sale) integration.
The market managers are amazed at the success of our sales and love that students are purchasing from students and supporting our entrepreneurial community.
We are inspired to continue growing the markets and making them a permanent partnership for years to come. We envision Student Made becoming a well known, recognized organization throughout MSU, as well as across the Greater Lansing community.
It is wonderful to see how Spartans want to support other Spartans in any way they can. In fact, we aspire to host larger pop-up events in partnership with student housing and with the local businesses in East Lansing.
The Burgess Institute aims to provide inclusive programming for anyone who has a business idea, and Student Made helps in providing an avenue for creators.
Student Made has also brought more students into our venture creation programming. This has increased our participation numbers in other entrepreneurial programs within the Burgess Institute.
The Student Made program encourages students to test the market and expand their creativity. The expansion of ideas and opportunities for students allows for a culture of belonging, comfort, and community at the Burgess Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
I am currently enrolled in the master of science in management, strategy, and leadership program at Michigan State. I have hands-on business management experience — wearing all the hats of a small business owner — and I have also managed a tech startup in the Lansing area.
I have brought my knowledge of HR, accounting, marketing, management, and leadership to the table at the Burgess Institute. Moreover, I have brought my experiences, learnings, and connections to the students at MSU.
