Startup Company, ‘UNItiques’, Helps College Girls Pay Tuition With Clothes They Don’t Want | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Startup Company, ‘UNItiques’, Helps College Girls Pay Tuition With Clothes They Don’t Want

An interview with UNItiques founder Alex Shadrow

147
Startup Company, ‘UNItiques’, Helps College Girls Pay Tuition With Clothes They Don’t Want
The Daily Free Press

You may be familiar with websites that allow users to sell their own clothing, handbags, and even makeup products for a chunk of cash back. Entrepreneur Alex Shadrow, a senior at Boston University, founded her own spin on resale websites and geared it toward college students like herself. UNItiques.com was born as an option for her to resell her own pieces because she was unhappy with the results she received from competitors. I interviewed Alex and found out so much more about her life with the company she created.


Amanda: Can you describe UNItiques for our audience to get to know your brand?

Alex:  UNItiques is the first college-focused fashion marketplace - we're on over 500 campuses. Anyone can use it though - we just say college focused because it's "not your mama's marketplace." You won't find tired old thrifts - you will find vibrant vintage, and fashionable brands - even stuff that's new with tags. 85% of every purchase goes back to students who need the money to pay tuition! Use code: AFFORDABLE at checkout for a special discount.

Amanda: That sounds awesome! Have you always wanted to start your own company before?

Alex: Definitely not, haha. I started UNItiques as an option for ME to sell clothes since I found my competitors to be extremely problematic. Did you know only 7.5% of items on Poshmark sells? On UNItiques 33% sells! A couple months later, thousands of girls were using my platform (UNItiques) to sell and buy clothes. To be honest it took me by surprise at first.

Amanda: I can't believe how unpredictable Poshmark can be. Sometimes your items sell while other times they sit there for months! As an entrepreneur, what do you feel are an entrepreneur's strengths and weaknesses?

Alex:Your number 1 weakness is trying to do it all. You can do really well, but without a team you can't scale. What I mean by that is, let's say you make 100 sales. You will need to hire someone else to make more. Everyone reaches their maximum capacity at some point and you will need a team.

Your number 1 strength should be resilience. You will have haters, doubters, naysayers. Listen to them, learn from them, and then forget them. You will be exhausted, you will be fed up, you will be miserable some days. There is no such thing as an overnight success and if you want to be a success you must be resilient.


Amanda: I totally agree with you on the 'trying to do it all' path. It's so hard to find a balance! I have to ask if anyone in particular helped mentor you through the process of building your brand?

Alex: My newest mentor is Rebecca Minkoff whom I met while filming UNItiques' episode of Project Runway Startup. I also have the two heads of entrepreneurship at my alma mater, Boston University as mentors. Mentors are everything - if you don't have one, get one (start by searching LinkedIn for people you know with amazing jobs or passions and ask if you can buy them coffee).

Amanda: No way, Rebecca Minkoff?! That's huge! She is such a great designer and businesswoman. As you continue to grow and expand, are there any upcoming projects you have for 2017 with UNItiques?

Alex: Yes, Mobile Application! We're going to make shopping into a game.

What I've taken from talking to Alex and creating my own UNItiques account is that it is a college girl's dream closet at her fingertips. The items are priced affordably and ship easily around the country. 85% of every purchase helps students who need $ for tuition, so make sure to check out their website here: www.UNItiques.com for more details. You can also use the code: AFFORDABLE for a surprise discount!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

645
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

4084
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2512
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201863
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments