People walking around the BYU-Idaho campus may notice students selling everything from potato chips to jewelry.
These students are a part of Integrated Business Core, a course offered at the university. IBC gives students the opportunity to develop and execute a business plan in one semester.
Many students who take IBC are business and marketing majors, but any student can register for the course.
BYU-Idaho students Katie Boyle and Emily Harvey are part of the IBC business called Stitched, which sells embroidered beanies.
The beanies are embroidered at the booth upon purchase. Some embroidery designs include flowers, trees and mountains.
Boyle is the chief marketing officer for the business. She is in charge of updating the business’ social media and creating signage, flyers and digital ads. She said starting the business has been a challenge, but the work has been worth it.
“The more you put in, the more you get out. A lot of my classes don’t teach me in the same way that this course does, so the more that you can invest into it, the more you’re going to get back. It is so worth it because you’re going to learn things that you never would have learned anywhere else,” Boyle said.
Students who take the IBC course do not get paid for their work, but they do receive nine college credits.
Harvey, who is the chief operations officer for Stitched, offers some advice for students considering enrolling in IBC.
“My advice would be not to be afraid. Just do it. Just come with a really positive attitude. If you have any interest in doing anything business related, even if it’s not your major, you’ll learn the things that you’re learning here in such a real-world example,” she said.
Stitched is selling their products in the Hyrum Manwaring Center next to the sky bridge. Their booth is set up there Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
IBC businesses will be selling their products through the rest of the fall semester.
For updates on Stitched, visit their Instagram.
To learn more about IBC, visit the IBC website.