Below is an excerpt from the article on MiamiHerald.com

Christopher Poore and business partner Ronald Rick III, 23, opened a Miami-based franchise of College Hunks Hauling junk and College Hunks Moving after meeting company founder and UM alumnus Omar Soliman through a senior-level entrepreneurship class.

Poore said they felt comfortable embarking on their own business venture right out of school because their studies taught them every aspect of the business world, from creating business plans to marketing. Other students who don’t have a business background still see more opportunity in entrepreneurship than in taking traditional jobs for their degree.

The biggest thing these young entrepreneurs have learned along the way?

Nothing is more important than building relationships with customers and giving them a quality product or service. It’s what Poore calls “guerrilla marketing,” and it’s more important than even having a Facebook page for your business.

Poore and Rick, along with their employees, attend community events, pass out flyers by hand and take coupons to local stores. Similarly, Galea and O’Sullivan have showed their toys at local farmers markets and Fairchild Garden’s Ramble. Kurlander makes sure to mention his business to everyone he meets, even when he’s at a social event. After building that strong customer base, the young entrepreneurs figure success is only a matter of time and perseverance.'

Read the full article at http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/07/3171513_p2/from-students-to-start-ups-local.html

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