Written by Bailey Ridenour and Emma Jones // Graphic by Wagner Valdez
Every year at Harding, Spring Sing takes over campus for one weekend with exciting performances and activities. Amongst those activities is the Spring Market, an opportunity hosted by the Waldron Center for Entrepreneurship for student businesses to showcase their hard work.
The market will contain all types of student businesses, including clothing thrift shops, crochet stores, woodburned goods and boba tea. This year the market is expecting at least 19 student businesses, including Little Women’s Crochet Club, Saddle Creek Jewels and Arkansas Underground Market.
Little Women’s Crochet Club is made up of freshmen Amelia Slater and Randi Tubbs and sophomore Jiana Manglicmot. They started their business over the bond of having a niche hobby and love for crocheting.
“It has been rewarding to be so encouraged whenever I would wear a crochet piece or mention our upcoming booth,” Slater said. “Everyone is so supportive and excited to see our work displayed. People are constantly sending me photos of cool crochet projects because now I am so associated with crochet and I love that so much. A little side hobby that I did for fun has now become associated with my identity and connected me with others on campus. I am also really excited to talk to those who visit our booth this weekend and share my passion for crochet with them as well.”
Despite being run through the Waldron Center, this event is not just for students that are working toward business degrees. Ashlyn Mullins, owner of Saddle Creek Jewels, is earning a nursing degree but started her business in 2022 to help women find accessories that bring a smile to their faces.
“As a nursing major trying to also run a small business, I have learned the skill of managing my time well,” Mullins said. “By participating in pop-up shops and other events I have learned how to better communicate with others, which is a lifelong needed skill. I have also learned how important it is to have a hobby outside of classes and your career.
Arkansas Underground Market is a thrifted clothing business run by sophomores Claire Morrow and Cole Shoemaker. This will be their second year participating in the Spring Market.
“We usually have mostly repeat customers at our pop-ups, but Spring Sing always brings in a whole new crowd of people that we don’t usually have the opportunity to sell to,” Morrow said.
The Spring Market will be held on the Front Lawn Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
