Tea Party | Photo by Aaron Cline | The Wright State Guardian
Students mingled and learned about business life while enjoying tea and snacks on Thursday, March 14. Various staff members were there to tell their side of running a business, and students had the opportunity to network during the tea party.
The tea party
The Culture and Identity Centers held the event. Students could chat while they picked various snacks and drinks before making their way to the large table with enough seats for everyone, though many also chose to stand.
At the back of the room was a small set-up displaying a local business’s products for sale. People gathered around to take a look at what the businesswoman had to offer.
The event was a great opportunity for students to network with each other and faculty, and the turnout was quite large. For most of the event, the room was incredibly packed with interested students hoping to learn more about the business world.
Small business owners
One of the present businesswomen, Debra Radford, was offering advice and products of her own throughout the event.
“As a staff member and business owner, I felt it was important to be present to talk about my business and being a business owner while working a full-time job and managing family life. It is important for them to see the hustle behind making it all work,” Radford said.
Her business involves custom detailing on apparel and jewelry; her best-seller during the event was jibbitz, or shoe charms for Crocs. She offered dozens and sold them at a price that had students desperate to get in on the deal.
On top of her business, Radford also works at Wright State University as the director of strategic resources and partnerships. At WSU, she works to connect the college with surrounding schools in the Dayton area and beyond. In her spare time, she cares for her family and small business.
“There are times we need to teach [younger students] the real lessons of life. We discuss budgets, jobs, personal branding and how to set themselves up for success in life. One of those lessons involves teaching the students about credit, credit scores, how it works and how it is important in building their future,” Radford said.
While it is a busy life, it is realistic; many businesses today, especially locally-owned or smaller ones, cannot survive off the business alone and are forced to add extra work to survive in today’s world.
There are a variety of reasons as to why people should shop locally. Supporting people in your community is one of many important contributions you can make.
The charm of small and local businesses is one of their biggest appeals. While offering unique and relevant projects at usually reasonable prices, knowing the face behind the business helps encourage people to buy from them.
Support local and small businesses
Isabella Taylor, an economics major, loves supporting small businesses.
“I love going to coffee shops and little stores and spending all my money. It makes me happy and supports [the small business],” Taylor said.
Makenzie Goddard, a computer science major, has only a few qualms.
“Sometimes, small businesses price things too high,” Goddard said. “Otherwise, I like buying from them.”
While it may be true that prices can be on the higher side, small businesses try to guarantee handmade or ethically-made products, unlike many larger corporations that may offset their production to make things more cheaply.
Students can learn more about local and small businesses in the area at the Dayton city website.
