There are two directions Debra Michals’ Women’s Entrepreneurship course could have gone this semester, she explains.
“One was that students could imagine a business and write a business plan for it and the other was that we could create a business as a class,” she said.
The students went with the latter. As a result, Merrimack College is slated to open Vintage Mack, a public, Merrimack-owned thrift store, later this year. Students in the class felt a thrift store was a perfect business opportunity.
There aren’t very many thrift stores in the Merrimack Valley, they argued, and the ones that are open are too far from campus or too pricey for the typical college student. Plus, it could give some Warriors a place to work.
“It had a lot to do with what this generation of students cares about: sustainability and affordability,” Michals continued, “but it can also last long after this class.”
The students recently pitched their idea to Merrimack College President Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D., each bringing their own particular academic strengths to the Vintage Mack project. For example, Izzy Gardener ’26, a sociology major, researched how other colleges across the country managed their own thrift stores.
“We hope to be more like Clark University’s, which is off-campus, open to the public and hosts events, such as fashion shows, to bring the community together,” said Gardener.
Madeleine Cherry ’27, an exercise and sport science major minoring in biology, conducted research on sustainability and textile waste.
“Our main goal with Vintage Mack is supporting a circular economy,” Cherry explained. “If we can take stuff in, we can put it back into the economy and it won’t go to waste. We waste about 17 million tons of textiles in the United States alone. A lot of our generation prefers to shop second-hand.”
Students described Sophia Hausberger ‘27, an entrepreneurship major, as the “business brains” behind the project. She currently serves as president of the Women in Business Club.
“Throughout this project, I naturally stepped into an unofficial management role, helping organize and connect the different moving parts that go into building a business,” she explained. “What’s made this experience so impactful is that it’s truly been a team effort. Everyone has brought their own strengths, and that’s been key to our progress. As an entrepreneurship student, this kind of hands-on work is energizing.”
President Hopey recommended that the class establish a student club to get greater involvement and to ensure the longevity of the thrift shop beyond this spring semester class.
“I’m the president of our Vintage Mack club,” said Meghan McKinney ’26, a human development and human service major with a minor in women and gender studies. “We hope to get more members involved because, unfortunately, a lot of us here are seniors.”
The Women’s Entrepreneurship class is currently working to secure a brick-and-mortar store and merchandise. A pop-up shop where students can donate gently used clothes will be held on Wednesday, April 8, at the Sakowich Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I worked with the group to determine how we should market Vintage Mack,” said Mikaela Sordillo ‘26, a graphic design major with minors in marketing and women and gender studies. “We made flyers to go around the school and we hope to get on WMCK radio to advertise it. We’re making an Instagram profile for Vintage Mack and in the near future, we hope to sell items on DePop.”
