Creator TESTIMONIALS

“Student-Made has produced so much growth for both my business and my skills as a businesswoman. I joined a supportive community of Creators trying to live the same dream, and supporting each other has made all of those dreams come to fruition. I love everything about this program, and I will be coming back every semester.”

“After joining Student-Made, I was continuously inspired by everyone at JMU, as well as the Student-Made community. This community is filled with so much talent and support. I was so encouraged by all the creators, and even though I had no experience making anything of my own, I wanted to create something I could be passionate about, too.”

“The networking and technical skills that Student-Made at NC State has helped me to build are things that I will use well after graduating. Being a part of this program has also taught me how to balance both school and my business, and I plan to continue looking to my environment for inspiration for Made By Megan as I have since the start.”

“Dedicating my time and effort to Student-Made was the best decision I could’ve made I went down so many avenues to try and find my niche, and I never found the right path. I was discouraged, but the community I found in Student-Made lifted me right back up! We’re constantly encouraging each other and it’s truly an environment where anyone could thrive! I am so glad I made the choice to be a part of the Student-Made community, and I can’t wait to see where it will take me!”

“The main source of inspiration for me to pursue a business venture was Student-Made. I realized a Limited Liability Company would not only help me organize my taxes, but create a platform for me to share my work with the Marquette community. I hope being a business owner can help me organize my LLC and maintain a professional outlook to the real world. Student-Made has given me a platform to bounce around ideas and practice my business skills.”

"Being in Student-Made has helped me be more intentional about what I create. I try to make products that will sell well or appeal to a variety of people, even if what I'm making may not appeal to me as much. That's a good thing because I end up making things I love that I never would've considered making before. I've found a much larger audience than I had previously, and I've learned how to market my products and put myself out there more effectively."

“What initially geared me to take this next step with my artistry, was the opportunity Student-Made presented. Prior to this, I was always hesitant to sell my artwork. Looking ahead, I hope to gain knowledge from the Student-Made program about the numerous components of starting and running a business, such as concepts, marketing, and financial management.”

“My Student-Made experience gave me a reason to keep pursuing my dreams as an entrepreneur. I learned more about myself as a leader and entrepreneur, and I am truly thankful for all that Student-Made has taught me about business, marketing, and myself! Being a part of the Student-Made Benedict community has been a huge part of my college career!”

“Student-Made Marquette has helped me turn my ideas into something real. Being part of the program pushed me to think more clearly about my business, my creativity, and how I present my work to others. It also gave me confidence as a student entrepreneur by connecting me with other creators and showing me that building something while being in school is possible.”

“What drew me to Student-Made is the community — being surrounded by people who want to help each other grow. Creatives are naturally generous, and Student-Made embodies that collective spirit. It’s a space where everyone has a voice and the opportunity to rise together. My goal in the program is to uplift other creatives, give them space to grow their businesses, and foster a community that’s inclusive and culturally competent.”

“Student-Made has given me many opportunities to get my products out there, as a full-time student I don’t really have the time to look for pop-up events so it has helped a ton in that aspect! My fellow creators and the managers are all extremely friendly and I have a blast every time I have the opportunity to join them in a pop-up. It’s like our own little community where we can all ask each other questions or help each other out!”

“My sole promotional avenue was through Instagram, and it became increasingly apparent that to advance my business, I needed to explore additional avenues. This is one of the reasons I joined Student Made. The pop-up events, in particular, have proven to be a dynamic and effective means of not only growing my business but also encouraging meaningful connections with other Student-Made members and customers.”

“I get to connect with other creators, share my goals, and engage with students from all across campus. Watching people light up when they find a piece they love—something I made with intention—is the most rewarding feeling. Walking around campus and seeing students wear my jewelry is an indescribable joy.”

“Student-Made has been such a positive influence on the art community at NC State by allowing creatives and young entrepreneurs to have an opportunity to sell their products. And along with that, feel an accomplishment toward something we are very passionate about!”

“Having Student-Made on campus has helped me to define the various different markets for what I make. This has pushed me to further define my path in the future, and what I want my work to look like. For example, what I sell on campus would be very different from what I’d make for galleries. ”

“I have already gained invaluable help from both my Student Made hub on campus and the Student Made organization through media support. I believe getting involved in this organization will and already has had a great impact on my life and business. I will continue to learn from other creators across my campus and other campuses because of how Student-Made has connected me.”

"I have loved my time working with Student-Made. Working with them has helped me grow so much as a small business owner and a brand. They helped facilitate new ideas, confidence in my business, and a wonderful community of other student entrepreneurs. Being a part of Student-Made has opened up a lot of opportunities I wouldn’t have been able to manage on my own!"

“I have made 3x the profit from being a part of Student-Made for two weeks than I did being on Etsy for almost four months, because their listing renewal/seller/commission fees are so high. I could not ask for a better group of loving friends and respectable business owners than those I have met through Student-Made. Their creativity bolsters my own, and the community makes me feel welcome.

“I found Student-Made on Instagram last school year and I immediately hit the follow button. Being able to have a space for NC State students to work together and promote each other’s businesses is truly amazing. I’m excited to continue finding community within Student-Made and utilize their resources to better my business and my products.”

“Throughout my entrepreneurial journey I have lacked a peer network of fellow entrepreneurs and students so when the opportunity to join Student-Made arose I knew I had to partake. Through selling in the markets I want to expand my distribution campus wide and share my products with more students not just on MSU’s campus but on campuses across the nation.”

“Joining Student-Made has been one of my best decisions since coming to Loyola! I have learned a lot about how to manage my business, from marketing and social media to making inventory. I really enjoyed connecting with so many other Creators, and I’m glad I’ve found other like-minded people that also share the joy of handmade items!”

“Student-Made was exactly what I needed to commit and start an official business. They were a huge help because they encouraged me and gave me so many resources without having my business or being a creator in the organization seem like an overwhelming task. “

"I desperately wanted to sell my products and grow my brand, but I was overwhelmed with figuring out marketing, finances, shipping, and sales myself. Student-Made took care of all of that which made it easier for me to design new products and improve my quality."

“Through my role in Student-Made I have learned what it means to be a leader, effective communicator, and a strategic artist. I think these traits will help me continue to improve my artistic skills as well as my leadership skills throughout my life!”

“The community of Student-Made has been amazing, as everyone is incredibly supportive and always open to helping. Seeing other creators and getting insight into their processes has inspired me and also created a space where I feel like my business is greater than just myself.”

“Student-Made gave me the confidence and support I needed to start a business during college! Balancing a full course load with a business is no easy feat, but the friends I made and the lessons I learned through this program helped me explore my passion for crochet without the stress!”

“Student-Made has allowed me to connect with so many amazing people! I never thought that I would be able to sell the jewelry that I make, but Student-Made has allowed me to do that through tons of pop-ups, partnerships with existing student organizations, and getting into huge events.”

“Student-Made has been an amazing opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and start my own business. Throughout my experience, I have been able to reach customers online and in person, such as selling at America's biggest homecoming here at Oklahoma State University, and meeting other Creators who are just as inspired as I am.”

“My experience with Student-Made has been incredible! Not only have I been able to start my small business as a college student, but I have been able to build connections with other student business owners who are also passionate about their work! Student-Made showed me that my talents are valuable and are appreciated by others!”

“Student-Made has been such a positive light in my time at UNC. I've loved having a group of like-minded creatives and entrepreneurs to bond with. Student-Made inspired me to start my own brand after years of honing my craft. Their online store and campus management staff brought down a lot of barriers to starting a brand that other platforms have.”

“Student-Made was my reason to keep going throughout college. The community is one of the strongest I have been a part of and I am so grateful for every opportunity I was given! I met some of my closest friends through Student-Made and I loved being able to connect with creators on other campuses. The network-wide workshops were super helpful and fun to participate in, and I was able to learn a lot from other creators at different schools! Student-Made gave me the space to be creative, and I am so grateful for everything that this program has given me the chance to do.”

“Joining Student-Made was a turning point for me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I quickly realized it was more than just a platform—it was a support system. Not only did I gain knowledge and new customers, but I also found a community of fellow creators and incredibly supportive leads. We bounced ideas off one another, shared constructive feedback, and had countless opportunities to showcase our work across campus. Student-Made didn’t just help my business grow—it gave me the tools, confidence, and connections to take it to the next level.”

“Student Made gave me the structure to turn an idea into a real business. Through Student Made, I learned how to register my business, price my products, and put myself in front of customers at pop-up events. It pushed me to treat my brand like more than a passion project. What made it most impactful was learning by doing. I could apply concepts from my Retailing coursework in real time, whether that was tracking GMROI, analyzing which events drove the most revenue, or figuring out how to tell my brand story in a way that connected with people.”

“Student-Made pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me realize that I’m capable of more than I thought, especially in creative and collaborative spaces. One of the biggest ways Student-Made impacted me was by strengthening my confidence. Selling my handmade products and interacting with customers taught me how to communicate clearly, advocate for my work, and handle feedback in real time.”

“My experience in Student-Made not only helped me know how to run a business, but also connected me to so many fellow creatives, allowed me to deepen some pre-existing friendships, and also gave me some new friends! I gained an outlet for my art, allowing me to freely create while having a place to put it instead of cluttering my dorm. I was able to profit from my hobbies, and that was a great opportunity.”

“Student-Made helped me start a business and try out skills with a well valued safety net. I don’t believe starting out I would have had the same opportunities to sell around the city of Columbia, get good photography of my products, or be aware of how many people my age have their own business. Once I graduate, I know I’ll have a better foundational understanding on how to continue my business.”

"Before I joined Student-Made at UNC, I mostly knitted hats and other items for myself, or to give as gifts to family and friends. I am a bit of a perfectionist, so I never really thought that I’d be good enough to sell my knitted items. Student-Made has given me so much confidence in my abilities, as I sold several hats as soon as the site launched at the beginning of November! It’s also been great getting to know other student artists and entrepreneurs— we have our own little community that is incredibly supportive, as well as fun!"

“The most valuable thing I learned as a Creator for Student-Made was how to expand my business within my community and beyond the local level. I learned how to market myself, how to create content for social media which I had no skills in before, and gained professional connections through events and the provided high quality product photography. I am currently forming my LLC for my business and plan to continue and expand after college. It has given me a great stepping stone to the next level as an entrepreneur!”

“One of the biggest struggles I have faced is balancing my time between school and business. I wish there were more hours in the day so I had extra time to fulfill orders and to create new designs and ideas. Which is one reason why I am extremely thankful for the Student-Made community. This organization is making a difference in our journeys, they are so FOR us! They want to help in whatever way they can! I can’t wait to continue to make new friends and grow my business with the help of Student-Made!”