Passion for Fashion

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by: Helen Kim

Start your own business at the college. Coming up with a business idea is simple, if you know how to do it. Think about what you're good at. When Maureen Eliot(21), Shane Yapcoy(21) and Jayneil Enriquez(21),  Mass Communication students in Saint Theresa’s College, started their business, Sui Generis, online shopping mall, it was based on their common interest in fashion. Now they supply fashionable-changing clothes to the Teenagers and youth. "We wanted to suggest the new fashion to the youth, so we named it Sui Generis, a Latin phrase which means, Unique in its characteristics,”
Maureen says. 

"As a student, it's important you choose the kind of business you run carefully. You'll need to be able to fit it in with your studies.” They said that online businesses don't necessarily cost a lot to start and they don't have to take up all your time. At first, their capital was only 500 pesos so they sold their clothes reformed by themselves for their business. “We choose online business, because they cost very little to start, can be run from your bedroom and, because you're in college, if you don't have the skills to design the site, you probably know someone who does.” Says Sui Generis Team.

Sui Generis Team says the advantage of the having the business is building up its brand, socializing with new people and having the pocket money. On the other hand, they say time management as a student is a challenge and managing customers is also difficult to handle. According to Sui Generis Team, it's not just about the money, starting a business is great for your satisfaction of your needs and finding the future as well. You will be able to have the skills from accountancy to sales to management and teamwork.

They say while it can be tough, and there's a lot to learn about earning a living on it, that’s the time that you need the partner. Maureen says, "You can share the ups when things are going well, and you've got someone to pick you up when things are going disastrously. You have to face those huge ups and downs on your own when you set up your own business. When you're choosing a partner, make sure you choose someone who is as committed as you are to the idea. You don't want to have to be the one who bears the brunt of the responsibility.”

Sui Generis encouraged the college students to start to have their own business they believed that in college, studying is not the only chance that you have. Your college life can be the best time to start a business. It's unlikely you'll own property, have a job to hold down or have a family to support . This may be the only time in your life you have the freedom to make mistakes.