College Offers Quirky Shirts Designed by Students
By TAMAR LEWIN
Forget the standard college sweatshirt.

At Oberlin College, not many students wear college-logo clothes anyway.

But now, thanks to a seven-week entrepreneurship project, the college bookstore is about to offer quirky student-designed T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts better attuned to the Oberlin sensibility.

At least, they seemed to be last month at the fashion show where the student designs were shown off to a cheering audience and a panel of alumni experts, including Michael Alexin, Target’s vice president for product design and development.

“We wanted a ‘Project Runway’ kind of event, but of course Finney Chapel doesn’t have a runway, so it was more a fashion show,” said Andrea Kalyn, the associate dean for academic affairs and director of the project. “We wanted to see which designs resonated most.”

The winning designs, which will be sold at the campus bookstore just in time for commencement over Memorial Day weekend, are very Oberlin. One shows a red-eyed albino squirrel, a common sight on campus. One features a “womb chair,” a cushy, orange, orb-like chair that decades of Oberlin library users have crawled into to read or nap.

“I am completely excited to see my work bought and worn,” said Karl Orozco, the freshman who designed the womb chair.

Mr. Orozco also designed another favorite: a view of the world as seen from the Oberlin campus in Ohio, along the lines of the famous New Yorker cover, with Cleveland, the Appalachians, New York and the Atlantic Ocean receding in the distance. Production of that shirt has been deferred until the fall, to give the students time to deal with any copyright issues arising from the takeoff.

Designing and choosing the images was only part of the process.

“We didn’t want it to end up being just a T-shirt competition; we wanted to wring as much entrepreneurial value out of it as we could,” said Lauren Abendschein, Oberlin’s assistant director for entrepreneurships. “Beyond the design, the students had to figure out how to make a display, how to do the merchandising, how do we make it a brand?”

About a dozen students from various classes and fields of study worked on the project, splitting into a marketing team and a design team.

“Remember, Oberlin is a liberal arts college with no design department,” said Mr. Alexin, who worked with the students throughout the process. “This was a group of smart, passionate students majoring in neuroscience or math or music, plunging into design.”

Apparel with a college logo has the highest profit margin of any merchandise in college bookstores, according to the National Association of College Stores. And Barnes & Noble, which runs more than 600 college bookstores, including Oberlin’s, says that such clothes sell best at colleges with strong sports programs and team spirit.

But at a place like Oberlin, which prides itself more on eclecticism than athletics, the campus aesthetic is different.

“We wear strange things, we’re a peculiar little community,” said Margot Hanley, a senior economics major on the marketing team.

“Oberlin students don’t really like to self-identify as one thing or another,” she said. “It’s mostly only the athletes who buy apparel that says Oberlin, so there was clearly an omitted market for us to reach.”

At the start, Ms. Hanley said, the students had far-ranging ideas — maybe finding a local fabric producer in Cleveland, maybe producing a line of long dresses in sunset colors — but the short turnaround time squashed those dreams for now.

Starting this month, the bookstore is offering the group’s T-shirts for $15 and its organic cotton hoodies for $50. But the hope is for the project to expand next year.

“I think it’s such a cool idea that any student interested in fashion, marketing or business will be interested in getting involved,” Ms. Hanley said. “I still want to see long hemp dresses with cutouts.”

1. Be proud of yourself and confident in your abilities no matter what. Confidence shines through and impacts how people will regard you. We all have a lot to learn, through all stages of life. No one ever knows everything. Even though you have a lot to learn as you begin to create a life, and a career, believe in yourself. But do so humbly. No one likes a braggart. I can’t tell you how many resumes come across my desks that are written with arrogance. They all wind up in the round file.

2. Make everyday count by learning something new every day. Then write your lessons learned down on a calendar, in a diary, or on an index card for future reference. Talking about these new things with family and friends will make you more interesting to people and help you keep in these lessons in mind –and in action.

3. Be time efficient in both your business and personal life. Also, I advise you to make more time for your family than for your business, as difficult as that may sometimes seems as you put in long hours. And don’t try to run your family like a business –a common mistake. It won’t work, and will just hurt you and your loved ones.

4 Read, read, read and then do more reading. Books are distilled wisdom and will make you smarter, more creative and provide you with a much more satisfying life. Also be sure to read the New York Times, especially all sections of the Sunday Times, especially the Week in Review, Business and Styles. One business book I read recently that I wholeheartedly recommend is “MicroTrends” by Mark Penn, an excellent resource for the budding entrepreneur. Another is “FutureThink” by futurists and trend-predictors Edie Weiner and Arnold Brown. Make CEOExpress.com your new homepage and refer to it frequently.
5 Entrepreneurs are a certain breed of independent thinking, ambitious person. Do you have those qualities? Here is a little quiz. Answer honestly.
(a) Are you a natural risk-taker or do you like to play it safe?
(b) Can you go for at least three months without taking a salary in hope of a payoff down the line? Have you saved money and do you have that nest egg?
(c) Are you highly creative and constantly think of new ideas? Do you look at products and think of ways to make or market them more effectively? Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night to write down an idea? Have you ever text messaged an idea to yourself because you were afraid you would forget it?
(d) Are you good at math and keeping books, especially your own checkbook?
(e) Are you willing to work 24/7 for the privilege of gaining financial independence and to never work for someone else again?
If you answered “Yes” to most of these questions then you are on your way.

The world is yours for the taking. Believe in yourself, run with it, and Good Luck!

-Ted Liebowitz Brooklyn College ‘79

 The Class of 2010

The Class of 2010 has come to an end for many it is just the beginning too early to comprehend.

The term was filled with inspiring speakers some thrill seekers who knocked the students out of their sneakers.

Sixteen of you made this great journey without anyone ending up in a gurney or needing an attorney.

Jack’s T-shirt business made such a hit, working while on vacation sounds like a fit.

Matt comes to class full of life his ideas and enthusiasm sharp as a knife.

Max’s focus is on natural pills someday he’ll make it to Beverly Hills.

Stephanie’s coffee shop is very unique extremely hard work and not for the weak.

David’s phone accessory stand was a huge success with his business acumen he will certainly progress.

Krystal’s designs made a big splash with the class I know someday she’ll end up on the runway.

Alisa made the buying trip fun for all, her fashion sense will be a big seller this fall.

Lisa’s business plan was second to none a tenacious leader who likes to have fun.

Billy’s smile is very contagious his business ideas totally outrageous. He’s out of the box and smart like a fox.

Iryna just seventeen, wise beyond her years, sold out the earrings without any fears.

Corinne the frugal shopper has much to offer, selling some Avon on campus added more to her coffer.

Sheyna the bookkeeper was never off by a cent, she’ll make a great accountant who likes to vent.

Khaled our rapper always endures matter of time before he tours. There is no doubt he will have a lasting shout.

Liya can sell jewelry like no other student her long term vision is very prudent.

David asks good questions and likes to learn, I know for sure he will always earn.

Kayla’s daily commute is no joke but her sales skills will ensure she is never broke.

My dad is always first to show up on selling day, handing out the flyers and putting out fires. He is always on the latest fad, because Brooklyn Joe is in the know.

Sara, my wife, helps me grade your papers and balance the books, while she takes care of the kids and cooks.

David our documenterian video’s our classes for future masses, always has a smile and is very versatile.

So that’s all for now, I hope you had fun, now go out there and Just do it and this is no pun.

 Ted Liebowitz Brooklyn College ’79

 www.Liebowitzentrepreneurprogram.org

Remember to pay it forward

Dear Students,
This week we had a bit of a struggle doing business in the cold and wind as students were passing us by to find relief from the cold. Many of our students were also not dressed warmly enough. While we did some business we were 40% off the prior week sales figures. When you are doing business outside the weather matters! Typically the rain and snow will have a major negative effect in most businesses especially nightclubs and restaurants. This week is predicted to be sunny and 70 degrees. Let’s hope so as it is our last day and I’d like to sell everything out!

There will be no homework this week to let you prepare for the final exam. Please e-mail me or bring in your missed homeworks as time is running out.

Final Exam
Due May 12, 2010

Part 1. Write a paper no longer then two pages on what you learned this semester from the program. Please include references to our text book, live student presentations, buying trips, various speakers and our selling days. How will you be able to apply these new learned skills to your new business in the future? Who was your favorite class speaker and why? Check the website for videos on all of our speakers

Part 2: At our graduation ceremony at Applebees on May 12th, 12:30PM you will be asked to stand in front of the class and accept your check & graduation award in front of your fellow graduates and invited guests of the college. In a speech no longer then two minutes tell me what you learned from the program and why I should make you my future partner?

Just a reminder our graduation and awards ceremony for the program will be held:

Date: May 12, 2010
Time: 12:30 PM
Place: Applebees Restaurant
Nostrand Avenue and Avenue H

Business attire will be required for this ceremony.

Next week is our first of our four selling days on campus. Those selling days are on Wednesday April 14, 21, 28 and May 5th and you must show up promptly at your assigned times. For those students that would like to sell their own merchandise that they have made or have access to you will need to bring your own bridge table to the school. Most of you will be selling the jewelry that we have purchased and we have our own tables for those goods. If you plan on selling your own products please let me know at this time so I can make accommodations at our booth. Also, please bring your own version of the flyer’s for our selling day. Please use similar language that is on the attached flyer. I have attached a copy of the flyer that I made as a sample. We will be posting those flyers in the cafeteria as well as handing them out on campus. Lets hope we have a nice warm day and remember to dress warm.

While we are selling on campus I will be doing one-on-one reviews with the following students: Max Savin,Sheyna Shalamova, Krystal Cox and Jack Fallas. We will be reviewing your homework’s, business plans and future entrepreneurial goals.

Liebowitz Entrepreneur Program
Homework # 8 April 7, 2010

Read chapter 10 in the text book at class website

Part 1: Make a list, in descending order, of the places you feel would be most beneficial for you to market or advertise the business you plan to start or, if you have no specific business in mind for sure, then a business you might be interested in starting. Be specific: Don’t just write “newspaper” but give the name of the paper that most interests you. Don’t just write “TV” but give the name or at least the type of program (news, drama, soap opera, infomercial, golf tournament) you’re interested in advertising on, and the channel or network.And for radio give the station call letters and the time of day: morning drive, midday, afternoon drive, late evening, overnight.

End-of-chapter exercise 2: Cut out or photocopy a recent newspaper or magazine
story on entrepreneurship or small business and write at least three paragraphs telling
what lesson or information you, as a future entrepreneur, can learn from this article

We had a big turnout of students at our first buying trip of the semester. The students bought all kinds of fashion earrings, necklaces, bracelets, wallets, etc. The weather was sunny and brisk as we toured the fashion accessory district of NYC.  We also stopped in to buy some supplies, bags and gift boxes for our jewelry. Thanks to all the students who picked out the merchandise you have a good eye. We begin selling on April 14, 2010 at 10 AM. Check out the videos on class website to see some of our previous selling days. Have a great break and see you in class on April 7th.

On Wednesday March 24th we will meet at Final Touch Jewelry at 29th and 6th avenue at 10 A.M. Please do not be late as we have a lot of ground to cover in the two hours allotted for the trip. Please e-mail me if you cannot make it.

Liebowitz Entrepreneur Program
Homework # 7 Mid Term Project
Due April 7, 2010

Dear Students,
I hope you have enjoyed our first half of the semester in which you heard from many speakers who have enlightened you with their inspiring entrepreneurial stories. You can always watch the video’s of the speakers again at our website.

Beginning April 14th I will be spending one-on-one time with each of you to review your business plan and future goals. We will be doing these reviews while your fellow students are selling at the kiosk on campus. At this time I am requesting that you let me know what times you are avail to work the kiosk. We will be selling on four days April 14, 21, 28 and May 5th, weather permitting. If it rains we go under the breezeway at Whitehead Hall. Please e-mail me and let me know whether you are going to work from 10-1 or 1-4 or if you have a special request due to a scheduling conflict.

Next week we have a buying trip and we meet at 10 AM in front of Final Touch Jewelry 54 West 29th street @ 6th Avenue. We will tour the fashion jewelry and accessory district and let you pick out merchandise that you will soon sell on campus. We will be done by 12 noon and everyone will go their separate way at that time.

Mid Term Project
Due April 7, 2010

Read chapters 7, 8 and 9 in the text book at the class website at: http://www.liebowitzentrepreneurprogram.org/textbook.html

Write a detailed business plan for your proposed business idea. You can get additional help online at the SBA: http://app1.sba.gov/training/sbabp/index.htm or by looking at various sites online. Another useful resource is “75 Startup Secrets published by Entrepreneur Magazine. You can find it at:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneursstartupsmagazine/2006/march/83560.html#got

Some of you have not handed in all of your homework’s. Please take note that your homework’s make up a significant portion of your grade. Please hand them in ASAP. If you are missing any assignments please let me know.

Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, undisputedly the #1 social media application of the 21st century. Twitter seems to be gaining momentum on Facebook. Recently a new easy to use site www.chatroulette.com is gaining ground with up to 50,000 simultaneous users and a massive viral campaign. Much has been written in the media about it in the last few weeks, including three pieces in the NY Times.

Please answer the following questions:

Part A. Will this Chat Roulette technology which has been available for many years, be the next big thing on the Internet? Do you find yourself a bit addicted to the site and why?

Part B. What other uses do you see for this real time video technology?

Part C. I am in the process of building out a speed-dating site using this
real-time video for what I think will be the killer dating application online. Users would be able to talk in real-time with potential dates. The users can chat for as long as they want to the current person or they simply click next for the next person. I will charge $19.95 a month for unlimited usage. Match.com charges $39.95/month. How do you think I would best market this new service?

Extra Credit:
You heard in class about my new business Education InDemand. How would you propose I go about marketing this in the most effective manner?