The next few weeks mark a period of growth for our E2 BUILD community. Students are still adapting their marketing plans based on the feedback they received from BUILDFest, and BUILD staff is working to keep sharpening the skill-sets of each sophomore team. By the end of the month, the staff hopes to have presented tutorials to each team explaining how to properly use Facebook to propel their businesses. In keeping with the goal of increasing brand awareness, each E2 business team is now featured on BUILD Boston’s Website under the “Student Businesses” tab. Visitors are welcome to learn more about the various products that BUILD entrepreneurs have created and are now selling to consumers. Students will be given the opportunity to develop their online business presences in time for BUILD’s upcoming selling events in December.
In other news, “I See Colorz” recently took a trip to Karmaloop’s Boston offices and spoke with real-world clothing designers about what works and what doesn’t in the fashion world. Numerous recommendations were made to the team, some of which included color choices, comfortability options, and the benefits and downfalls of co-branding. One of the most important pieces of advice given was to create an authentic message. Keeping their brand fresh and unique will set “I See Colorz” apart from all other Boston-area clothing retailers. The team’s mentor stated that her favorite part of the visit was hearing the background stories of the Karmaloop staff and learning how they got involved in the company.
Other highlights from the day included taking a tour of the company’s offices and watching Karmaloop employees at work. The group even got to meet Karmaloop’s CEO and saw a pair of the brand’s most expensive shoes. The team had the chance to peek in on the technological side of the business and hear testimonials from the people who keep Karmaloop running behind-the-scenes.
The opportunities available to BUILD students are expanding as we gain recognition and support within the Boston area. Thanks to events like BUILDFest and our current mentor fundraiser BUILDUp, we are quickly becoming more and more able to offer hands-on ways of learning, such as asking for advice from CEOs of real companies. Still, our programs cannot thrive without the help from our awesome volunteer mentors. Have some time to spare? Become a mentor today by emailing ROliver@BUILD.org
