Supporting student small businesses: NGU edition
Delaney Blackburn, Features and Entertainment Editor
Photo Courtesy of Emma Kate Edwards.
NGU students may be surprised to find out they can support small business owners from the Tigerville campus.
North Greenville University’s student entrepreneurs have shared not only the inspiration behind their businesses, but also why students at the university may be interested in what they have to offer.
Emma Kate Edwards, freshman elementary education major, runs a boutique called Sara Ellen Boutique alongside her two sisters and their mother.
Edwards said their boutique offers clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. The boutique is named after the sisters’ great grandmothers on each side of their family.
Edwards said, “When running our business, my sisters and I have one main goal, and that is to put our customers first.”
Brooke Edwards, sophomore business major and sister of Emma Edwards, said their business offers items for women of all ages and sizes.
She added that their business is God-centered and holds fundamental family values.
Edwards said, “We want our customers to be comfortable in their Sara Ellen clothing, and we want them to feel amazing.”
Edwards said the business started in April 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the sisters spent a week cleaning out their closets and getting rid of some things, they decided to start an online boutique.
Edwards said they also offer heat press shirts for anyone who wants to have a certain design put onto a t-shirt.
“It could be a name, number, college football team … really anything you want on a T-shirt and we’ll do it for you,” Edwards said.
Edwards said they appreciate every single one of their customers. She said that without God, their parents’ support and their amazing customers, they wouldn’t be where they are today.
Sara Ellen Boutique can be found on Instagram and Facebook @saraellenboutique. They also have a location at 215 M West Wade Hampton Blvd. Greer, SC 29650.
The Edwards sisters are not the only NGU students who have created their own businesses.
Senior Christian studies major Wilson Goins started his bible rebinding business shortly after the pandemic.
Goins said, “I enjoy working with my hands, but much more, I love the Bible.”
Goins said that because goatskin leather bibles can be expensive, he decided to make his own. Once his skills improved, he turned it into a small business.
Goins said if someone’s bible is falling apart, he can remove the old cover and replace it with a genuine leather cover.
Goins said he offers a variety of colors, ribbons and other decorations to rebind bibles with. He added that if someone wants something special done to their bible, he can do that as well.
Goins said, “I do my work for God’s glory. I also offer extremely cheap prices.”
Goins said that although most rebinding businesses charge at least $180 for their services, he has never charged anyone over $70.
Goins said he takes orders over Christmas break, spring break and summer break in order to balance his studies with his business. He added that he will be taking new orders starting May 1.
Goins added, “I love meeting new people, and I love it when people propose new designs for their bibles.”
Photo Courtesy of Wilson Goins.
