Housing and Residence Life and the Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion hosted the Side Hustle Expo as a part of UNA’s Mane Month.
The Side Hustle Expo is an event hosted every year for student entrepreneurs to show off their “side hustles” for their peers.
Fourteen tables were set up in the GUC atrium, showcasing glimpses into these student entrepreneurs’ businesses. The event hoped to encourage students to combine “the classroom with hands-on experience [to] kickstart the entrepreneurship process,” said a flyer at the event. It also aimed to show students how to use their abilities, background and energy to commit to a project.
Several resources are available to students who wish to start their entrepreneurship process. The Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, or CEO, is a student organization on campus that offers “courses, startup resources, and potential mentors and advisors at the university than anywhere else near you,” the organization said.
Another student resource advertised is “The Generator.” The Joel R. Anderson Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Studies offers this service to students. It is located on the first floor of 541 W. College St., in the new off-campus College St. building. It offers services such as “assisting new student business owners in developing a working business model, establishing their company and progressing to independent operations,” the center advertised.
HRL and the Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion said that “there is no age for entrepreneurship” and to work at your own pace and “there is no need to rush fate.”
The welcome desk offered free tote bags for students to grab as they moved through the expo. These tote bags were hand-printed by Brooklyn Beauregard-Jackson. She designed some of the designs on these totes.
Beauregard-Jackson hosted the event, along with HRL and Social Inclusion. Her inspiration came from her experience with having her own side hustle when she was an undergraduate.
“I wanted to create a safe space for the students to be able to showcase their talents and works and to also gain clientele from this,” said Beauregard-Jackson. The Side Hustle expo came to fruition when she was a grad student.
“When I was a grad student here at UNA and I was working in the student engagement office, my supervisor at the time, Bethany Green, we were brainstorming some different programs to do for the student body, something that would get the students involved and out,” she said. “I was like ‘Why not do a side hustle expo,’ because I know that whenever I came to UNA I had a little side hustle, little business, that I was doing to get me through undergrad.'”
The expo featured many different students with varying businesses, including jewelry, crochet crafts, hair specialties and car detailing. Some made stickers and buttons to show off their school pride, while others baked desserts to share with their peers.
The student entrepreneurs used this expo to promote their businesses, but encouraged students who wish to start a business to use social media to promote as well.
Journey Rhodes, owner of “Planet Creativity,” focuses on jewelry, such as bracelets and earrings. She said her side hustle has helped her.
“A way that I got out of my depression was crafting a lot of things,” said Rhodes.
She has found that promoting her business on social media has been helpful in helping her grow. She is currently selling her jewelry on Depop.
Rhodes said, “Right now, we’re doing really good on Tiktok and really good on Instagram.”
Sydney Newton creates stickers as her side hustle, named “Sydney Gail Creates,” found that social media was also a good way to promote her business.
“I started this in high school. It was a very small business that I started, just selling a bunch of stickers. And, it’s grown [very] much,” said Newton.
For Newton, she has a passion for creating things that will make others smile.
She said, “I just do it for fun. I like to do it for other people, because to see their happy faces enjoying what I do, it just makes me really happy.”
DeAnna Suggs’ business “Locs By Dee” focuses on styling locs, and she uses Instagram and Snapchat to promote her business.
“I do a whole lot of promos on my instagram, but I also use UNA 2027 on Snapchat,” said Suggs.
She explained that using the UNA 2027 group on Snapchat allows students who are graduating in 2026, 2027 and 2028 to see her advertisement posts. Suggs posts “every single thing” in order to promote her business.
Sierra Johnson’s business “Touched by Cece” also focuses on hair styling. She found that social media, as well as fliers and brand deals, helped her promote her business.
Johnson wanted to provide some advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.
“Try hard, put your face out there and don’t give up,” she said. “Just believe in yourself and move forward. Always believe in yourself, do you, and book me.”
Ashley Walker’s business “Booshka Crafts” is focused on crochet animals and earrings. She also had advice to give to future student entrepreneurs.
“Don’t undercut yourself. Just know your worth and that, don’t hold back. I would go all out and you know just be comfortable with yourself,” said Walker.
After the event, the Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion said in a statement, “Keep up the hard work y’all! It definitely pays off!”
Beauregard-Jackson gave a message for the students who wish to participate in the Side Hustle Expo in the future.
She said, “For every year that I am here, at UNA, I will continue to do this. It will always be held in the fall semester, and there will be one in the spring.”
The next Side Hustle expo will be held in the spring, typically planned for March. Students are encouraged to join and show off their businesses.
