Students browse through stands during MavMarket on Oct. 29 on the Central Library mall. MavMarket allows students to sell their personal products.
Crowds of students bustled through the Central Library mall. Tables and tents lined the walkways, each offering something new for students to survey. Jewelry, plants, baked goods and more, there was no shortage of items to choose from.
On Thursday, MavMarket welcomed students to support their peers’ small business endeavors.
A plant is sold during MavMarket on Oct. 29 on the Central Library mall. MavMarket is hosted twice each academic year.
Organized by the UTA Entrepreneurship Club and powered by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Development, the market is held twice each academic year, giving students the opportunity to launch, grow and validate their business ventures, according to the events webpage.
Whether students are looking to make some extra cash, kick-start a business or simply share their interests and hobbies, the event helps to connect them with like-minded entrepreneurs.
Biology senior Waylon Shinn looks through a box during MavMarket on Oct. 29 on the Central Library mall. Shinn said he stopped by MavMarket because he enjoys seeing independent artists show off their work.
Anchovy Arts
Art senior, Jovi Henderson, turned her artistic skill in glass blowing into her own small business. Her table glistened in the sun, laden with glass cups, vases and many other vessels.
Entering her fourth market, Henderson said she was inspired after seeing the success of the glass art sale hosted each year by the Art and Art History Department.
“MavMarket’s a really good opportunity to dip your toe in the water,” Henderson said. “A lot of us focus on making the art and then not selling it.”
Saul Bailon, visual communication design junior, uses a rotary grinder during MavMarket on Oct. 29 on the Central Library mall. Bailon is also a vendor at the Dallas Farmers Market and the Fort Worth Community Market.
Sawl’s Spoon Crafts
Saul Bailon, visual communication design junior, much like Henderson, had a booth that reflected the sun; only instead of glass, his table was full of silver.
From rings made of spoon handles to spoon keychains, Bailon’s business looks to give new life to something left behind, he said.
“You can make money of everything; you just have to give a purpose to it,” Bailon said. “You can make money from rocks, from dirt.”
Criminal justice freshman Camila Tavera looks through rocks during MavMarket on Oct. 29 on the Central Library mall. Tavera said she enjoys looking through crystals and jewelry.
Genesis Gem Shop
Making money from rocks is just what Rebecca Holmes, business administration graduate student, was doing at this semester’s market, only her second one to date.
Being a collector herself, Holmes said she wanted to focus on finding ethically-sourced stones and gems that were still affordable, in the hope of making them more accessible to other students who may share her interest. Most of all, she was there for the community.
“As beautiful and metaphysical as rocks can be, I do think people are magical and I think we’re really what has the true intention of life,” Holmes said.
Victoria Burnett Ryan, communication specialist for the Office of Information Technology, points at a plant during MavMarket on Oct. 29 on the Central Library mall. Burnett Ryan started selling at MavMarket because her co-worker had a good experience selling.
Bling by Victoria
Just a stone’s throw from Holmes, a multitude of plants in glass bottles and vases basked in the sun.
Victoria Burnett Ryan, senior communications specialist for the Office of Information Technology, might be one of the more well-known booths due to her large collection of plants and blinged-out books and shot glasses.
Burnett Ryan, wearing a “crazy plant lady” T-shirt, said her business shows the two sides of her personality. Like Holmes, Burnett Ryan said she mainly wants to share her passion with the UTA community.
“There’s people who they’ve never had a plant before they bought their first plant from me, and it’s so cool to see them come back semester after semester,” Burnett Ryan said. “I love helping people with that.”
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