MavMarket draws student entrepreneurs of all majors
Students, alumni, and staff set up shop in Brazos Park Monday for The University of Texas at Arlington’s biannual MavMarket, offering handmade art, jewelry, clothing, stickers, bouquets, plants, matcha lattes, baked goods and other creations for purchase. A tradition that kicked off in spring 2024 with 61 vendors at the Central Library Lawn, MavMarket this semester hosted the maximum number of vendors Brazos Park accommodates—around 100.
For some vendors, the event was a first step in their side hustle journey. For others, it served as an opportunity to learn how to improve their products and expand their small businesses.
“It doesn't matter what students are majoring in: There's something for them to learn from participating in MavMarket, whether it be communication skills, sales, understanding cash flow and pricing or convincing strangers to try their product,” said Josue Melendez, program manager for the Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Development and advisor for the Entrepreneurship Club, the student organization that plans and executes MavMarket.
Among the things new participants learned were the importance of pricing—it should be high enough to earn a profit but low enough to attract customers—and the need for inventory so they don’t sell out too fast. Some returning vendors came prepared this semester with an adjusted approach to increase revenue, whether that entailed finding new ways to raise the quality of their products, choosing the ideal location in Brazos Park or making their prices and payment methods more visible.
“I learned to target the UTA audience specifically. I made more sales the second time around because I had a better idea of what students liked,” said David Juarez, a sophomore majoring in biology who sold crocheted items.
Chaitanya Sant Kumar, president of the Entrepreneurship Club, discovered a passion for managing events through MavMarket.
“I have polished my marketing skills, my communication skills, my networking skills, my operational and logistics skills and my ability to coordinate with people offline instead of just on calls,” said Kumar, who is graduating in May with a master's in engineering management.
In some cases, MavMarket has led to opportunities for students to sell their products off campus.
“It is a testing ground where they can see whether their stuff is going to do good or not, refine, and then come back and try again. It's very low risk,” Melendez said. “From there, some have gained enough confidence to participate in the Arlington Farmers Market or events at Levitt Pavilion. A few even had the opportunity to table at Texas Live.”
In addition to developing transferable skills, students utilize MavMarket as an avenue for expressing themselves creatively and exploring something they enjoy that isn’t related to their coursework. Dulce Ruvalcaba, a sophomore nursing major, started her bouquet business seven months ago to do just that.
“Working with nature is calming,” she explained. “Nursing is often tied to struggles with mental health, so I feel like this is a good way to release any pent-up stress.”
Although most MavMarket vendors were students, the event was also open to alumni and employees.
Camara Mathis (’24 BFA) said she creates her jewelry, art and hair pieces because she likes bringing smiles to people’s faces.
“Getting out there on social media is really hard,” Mathis said. “So having an in-person opportunity on campus is a good way to get your foot in the door.”
- Ellie Schirm, Office of Marketing, Messaging, and Engagement
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.