Samford University’s Brock School of Business hosted the 13^th annual Regions New Venture Challenge business plan competition Friday, April 23, 2021. In partnership with Regions Bank, the event provides a real-world opportunity for students from across campus to develop their entrepreneurial skills and display their talents while competing to win startup capital to launch their businesses. This year, Sara Bartlett took home the top prize with her business Canyon Couture.

 

Bartlett, a senior Brock Scholar studying economics and social entrepreneurship, started Canyon Couture to pursue her dream of owning her own business. While working as a full-time student and part-time waitress, she started her business using all her personal savings, in hopes that the Regions New Venture Challenge would be able to help her business get off the ground.

 

“I had always dreamed of owning my own business but was pretty scared to jump all the way in with a huge capital investment of my own,” Bartlett said. “When I learned about the opportunity to win funding through the New Venture Challenge, I decided to take a risk and start saving to invest in my business.”

 

The mission of Canyon Couture is to provide a curated collection of recycled and repurposed clothing and home decor that is both environmentally sustainable and ethically sourced. With the environmentally minded consumer as a top market, Canyon Couture brings unique products to people, when and where they want them. All inventory is sourced from local thrift stores, saving items from the landfill and supporting local non-profits in the process.

 

In January, well before information about the competition was announced, Bartlett purchased a 1997 international school bus for $5,000 and began to convert it into a mobile boutique. Currently, Canyon Couture is located in a 25-square foot booth which Bartlett rents from SOZO Trading Company, but her business plan includes transitioning into the fully converted school bus in June 2021.

 

“The opportunity to compete in this competition not only gave me the push I needed to bite the bullet and start my company, but it gave me the opportunity to gain knowledge and insight into my business from established professionals,” she said. “The whole competition process has been amazing, and I would encourage anyone looking to start their own business after graduation to give it a try. I am truly so grateful for the opportunity to compete, let alone win funding for my dream!”

 

Jeremy Thornton, associate dean and social entrepreneurship program coordinator said, “Canyon Coutour is a great example what our social entrepreneurship program aspires to produce, a profitable venture combined with visible social mission. Many of our Brock School of Business social entrepreneurship students are finding creative ways to apply their business skills to redeem our culture and our communities. I am delighted Sara’s efforts can be recognized and celebrated.”

 

Follow Bartlett’s entrepreneurial adventure on TikTok and Instagram @canyoncouture.

 

The 2021 Regions New Venture Challenge winners from across campus include:

Sara Bartlett (Brock Scholar, economics and social entrepreneurship)

 

Theo Edwards-Butler (musical theatre)

 

Lance Rybka (finance)

 

Do Jin (accounting)

JD Beall (Christian ministry), Aiden Davitt (prebusiness), Brady Goodman (prebusiness), Olivia Lamb (prebusiness), Gracie Plunk (prebusiness), Rebecca Steelman (prebusiness)

 

Mirra Cabote (prebusiness), Charlie Morrison (prebusiness), Ash Perry (prebusiness), Edwin Rainey (health sciences), India Rowe (communication studies), Luke Williams (prebusiness)

 

Kyle Bowman (journalism and mass communications), Dylan Gadsey (prebusiness), Ryan Kean (prebusiness), Michaela Mattos (prebusiness), Mac Smith (prebusiness), Laura Beth Sumrall (prebusiness)