SUNY Potsdam entrepreneurs plan shirt, discount card businesses
Monday, November 16, 2009, 8:50am
POTSDAM -- Two teams of SUNY Potsdam student entrepreneurs have big plans to learn about the mechanics of starting a business by going out and doing it.
One team is helping spread stronger SUNY Potsdam pride across campus and the other team is learning the basics of mapping a target market niche and finding a way to fill a need of the market segment.
Both teams are in the “Principles of Entrepreneurship” course being taught this semester as an advanced business elective course.
One team has designed shirts for students looking for an inexpensive way to support the school at sports events or just simply to show overall pride to be a “bear,” which is the mascot for SUNY Potsdam.
The second group of young entrepreneurs is composed Chris McGregor of Johnstown, Cory Manning of Saratoga Springs, Ashley Wiggins of Ogdensburg and Mike Bateman of Ogdensburg. They started a discount card business called “Bear Necessities” that allows cardholder discounts at local eateries and selected stores in the Potsdam area. The team is selling the discount cards just outside The College Store.
Members of the shirt team are Tori Ebert of Middletown, John Van Tassel of Adams Center, Brendan Graney of Ticonderoga and Chris Janaro of Potsdam.
Scott’s Auto and Eben’s Hearth Restaurant are subsidizing the initial capitalization and in exchange their names are on the sleeves of the shirts.
The team also made a link on Facebook and if anyone adds “Bear Pride” as a friend, they can find promotional discounts and more information about the team.
The shirts are on sale now at The College Store in the Barrington Student Union until the last week of classes this semester. The team will also operate the business at the Student Union Lobby on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For more information about the entrepreneurship course, contact Dr. Portugal at portugej@potsdam.edu.
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