On Saturday, October 26th, Ursinus Students will get a unique chance to try their hands at running a small business at the “Bear Bazaar” event. Hosted by the U-Imagine center, Bear Bazaar gives students a chance to sell their products on campus in Olin Plaza during Homecoming weekend. Each participant will be given a designated area and table in the plaza to display their creations and passions. The idea is to give students real-world business practice via the high traffic of the weekend – alumni, family, and friends will all be interacting at the pop-up market, so students will get valuable experience communicating and selling their products to members of their community and beyond. Even better, they will have a chance to make a profit by making sales.
In the past, Bear Bazaar has given all kinds of businesses a spotlight. Students have sold their handmade jewelry, baked goods, and custom clothing companies. Some have even promoted their identities as influencers and used the market to grow their social media presence. Even if they do not have a fully fledged business, students have sold old clothes, shoes, and other miscellaneous items in a yard sale manner. Businesses of all kinds have succeeded and profited at the Bear Bazaar.
It can be daunting to launch or practice your business as a full-time student, which is why the U-Imagine Center is there to help. They help the owners create branding such as logos, slogans, and visuals to enhance the selling potential of the product, as well as offer one-on-one advice about how to treat customers and be an effective salesperson. This makes the setup process easy to navigate for the seller, and gives them an advantage over other entrepreneurs due to the expert mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs of the U-Imagine Center.
All students are encouraged to participate, especially if you have a specific product, skill, or social media presence you have always wanted to profit off. Stop into the U-Imagine Center anytime and ask about how to get started. If you do not wish to sell, then be sure to stop by the Bear Bazaar as part of your homecoming weekend festivities. Mohammed Abdelatty ‘27 plans to attend, saying, “I’m thrilled to see the entrepreneurial spirit come to life and am very curious as to what type of student businesses will be showcased.” Abdelatty is absolutely correct – it will be exciting to see what creations Ursinus Students have to show off!