By Melissa Catpo, Staff Writer
Although COVID-19 has restricted everyone’s ability to go about their daily lives, some of Mills’s very own students have taken the extra time of being at home to become business entrepreneurs. The Thunderbolt interviewed three student-run businesses and gained insight on their ambitions.
Madison Wong (12), is the owner of Ribbons Allure. She sells cosmetics, jewelry, and has just recently started selling bralettes. Wong officially launched Ribbons Allure in the beginning of June 2020, after several months of research. Every aspect of Wong’s business, from running her website to buying materials, is done solely by her. When asked what inspired her to start a business, she responded, “I’ve always loved making and selling things and I’ve wanted to own a business for a while but I never really had the time to do so.” Wong explained that because of quarantine, she finally had enough time to do research and establish her business. On her business’s website, (https://ribbonsallure.com/pages/my-story), Madison Wong states that she donates 10% of all proceeds to cancer research, as her parents are cancer survivors. In addition, the meaning behind the business name, Ribbons Allure, is to spread awareness of different types of cancers and to show support to those affected by it. Visit the Ribbons Allure website (ribbonsallure.com) and place your order today!
For those who aren’t interested in jewelry and cosmetics, but rather shoes, West Coast Hype is the business for you! This reselling business is made up of three people: Brendon Lee (12), Edmund Tiao (12), and Anthony Liu (11). The entrepreneurs are always searching for the newest pairs of shoes and growing their vast collection of sneakers. The trio kicked off their business in May of this year. Lee, Tiao, and Liu sell authentic items from popular brands, such as Nike and Adidas, and have amassed over 1,300 followers on their instagram page (@wc_hype). When asked what inspired them to start their business, Brendon Lee shared, “I really liked the idea of sneakers holding value over time and being able to wear many types of shoes. So when I found out sneakers were profitable, I saw an opportunity to make money and do my hobby at the same time.” To see what Wc_hype could have for you, visit their instagram page (@wc_hype) and direct message them if you are interested in purchasing.
The novel coronavirus has resulted in places being shut down and masks being mandated almost everywhere. Sisters, Karissa Lagunte (‘20) and Khloe Lagunte (11) were inspired to start a mask business to help battle both pollution and COVID-19 while also providing fun and colorful masks for those in the Millbrae community. Masks for Kindness is a non-profit business that sells homemade reusable cloth face masks. The duo states that all proceeds go toward the UCSF hospital to help fund COVID-19 response efforts. The business is truly a team effort with Khloe packaging the masks, Karissa delivering and shipping the masks, and both of them sewing the masks. On their instagram page (@masks4kindness), the business displays multiple collections, including Love Your Mother, the Pastel, and the Island. They began their business in hopes of decreasing the amount of disposable masks in our waters. According to Green Matters, an estimated 129 billion face masks are used and disposed each month. The Lagunte sisters are determined to help the environment one mask at a time. To purchase from Masks 4 Kindness, visit their instagram page (@masks4kindness) and direct message the account!
Through these tough times, some of Mills’ students have used their creativity to start businesses. Despite the fact that these are only a handful of the countless student-run businesses, it is clear that they are each diverse and unique. If you are interested in buying new clothing items, make sure to shop at small businesses by checking out these student-run stores and always try to support small businesses!
