CLARE NORMOYLE
Special to The Leader
Inside her cramped dorm room in Gregory Hall at SUNY Fredonia, her light brown cookie-cutter desk not only doubles as a workspace for schoolwork, but also an office for her small business.
“Like it or not, being a student is also a full-time job, so finding time for both, and to [set] goals for each is essential,” said Emma Stack, senior social studies adolescent education major and owner of StackedByEmma.
Stack started her jewelry business back in the Spring of 2021. StackedByEmma sells handmade bracelets, wire wrapped necklaces, phone charms and even zodiac jewelry. Any spare time that Stack could’ve saved for napping or relaxing is now reserved for running her business.
“When I have a chunk of time that I can create new designs and make new products, I usually sit down and first write out all of my orders, and then start to make the largest orders first and the smallest orders last,” Stack said.
And if a day goes by where she has to prioritize school over her business, she always makes sure she sets time aside during the day to create.
“I tell myself that today we need to hit these goals and I’ll do them. I usually create and make products in between classes, early in the morning or late at night. I work around the other things in my schedule to get things done for my business,” she continued.
When she’s not working from school, her business is based out of Lewiston, New York.
Another small business owner, Mary Conover, a childhood inclusive education major, had to completely relocate her business and life for her fall semester of senior year.
Conover owns YoungMaronnaise, a tie-dye sock and miscellaneously creative business. As it’s required for her major, Conover has to take a semester of in-field experience and student teach. In her case, she was able to teach hours away from Fredonia, all the way downstate in New York City.
The change of lifestyle has been slightly overwhelming for Conover, as she’s had to juggle multiple responsibilities, by throwing a job into the mix of her already hectic schedule.
“I’ve definitely felt like my student teaching and work have been getting in the way of my business. Not just the hours I spend at both every day, but prep work and just exhaustion by the time I get home. I don’t like having to force myself to create because it often doesn’t make my best work, so I love when I have the time that I’m able to want to,” said Conover.
Conover started her business back in her early years of high school and it has continued to excel her last four years of undergraduate school. Being a student teacher has taken up more of her time than she expected.
“I fully considered stopping all business while in school or at least for the semester because I know it’s so much to handle, but I really didn’t want to do that. Although I’ve had to cut back, I am always happy to be creating,” Conover continued.
Conover emphasized the importance of prioritizing — what comes first is figuring out what needs to be a top priority, and then working your way from there to what comes next.
Fortunately, these small business owners have a reliable and local support system at their disposal. The Fredonia Technology Incubator, a business development service, works with external partners to promote economic growth by supporting entrepreneurship and development of new companies.
“We work with external partners to promote economic growth by supporting entrepreneurship and development of new companies,” said Chuck Cornell, Director of Fredonia Technology Incubator.
The incubator has also created a business competition and an internship program for students. “As an economic development center, a visit to the incubator is a good first step. We can guide entrepreneurs and small business owners to support services and resources that may be beneficial,” Cornell continued.
Both Stack and Conover know what it’s like to feel discouraged when life gets stressful. Perseverance is what has helped them continue to grow and remain successful as small business owners.
Conover recommends, “Do what you love! If there’s something you want to start, do it! Be willing to do your best and to fail sometimes.”
You can find Conover’s business, YoungMaronnaise on Instagram @youngmaronnaise, and Stack’s business on Instagram @StackedByEm, or on Etsy at StackedByEmma.