As a full time student at YSU, it can be very challenging to own a business and be in school at the same time. But my drive, passion, and attitude keep me going every day and I get the job done because I know the goal of both missions I want to complete: getting my degree and growing a successful store that will eventually become a franchise.
My WCBA experience has helped me grow my business, Relaced, because of all the resources that I’ve had access to since my freshman year. There are many professors who have real experience in the business world and range from lawyers to business owners, and more. The WCBA does a great job at putting real-world professionals in the classrooms which has helped me grow tremendously. Being able to hear stories and past experiences from professors who have gone through what I will eventually or currently am undergoing helps me in many situations.
If you’re a WCBA student and you want to start your own business, definitely take note of what you learn in your early business classes because that will be relevant in the beginning stages and even intermediate stages of your business. The WCBA also has relationships with the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, which has a ton of business resources, as well as the Small Business Development Center. The SBDC, which is actually located on the first floor of Williamson Hall, has helped mature me as a business owner tremendously and I encourage those interested in starting something new to check them out.
Being the first ever Burgan Entrepreneurship Prize winner was such an honor. It definitely impacted me beyond the monetary value of the grant; I have made several relationships with business owners and partners who have now turned into friends and have helped me grow my business. The networking opportunities of the Burgan Prize have been so valuable.
The funds were put towards inventory cost as well as helping with business security during the pandemic. I found out about this opportunity just by checking my YSU email and taking advantage of the opportunity. I would advise anyone who is a student at YSU to always check your emails for different opportunities. You never know what may be out there.
I hope to have Relaced stores from coast to coast, nationwide. Fashion will never go away; it will only continue to elevate, and I want to expand with it. Once you realize the end goal the grind will become just a little bit easier.
I’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the Youngstown community, especially on social media. Something I have been doing since the age of 15 has come to light in such a short time that my vision of everyone knowing about this business is more active than ever.
(You can listen to Maeson speak with Youngstown Publishing Company CEO Jeff Leo Herrmann on this episode of the the Brain Gain Youngstown Leadership podcast.)