Ideas taken from concept to plan

The concept

The Aura Club is a members-only fashion collective creating one-of-a-kind streetwear from donated clothing and jewelry. Instead of mass-market production, it focuses on small-batch, handcrafted pieces that cannot be replicated, building a community around individuality, creativity, and conscious fashion.

Problem & solution

Fast fashion is overproduced, repetitive, and unsustainable, while customers want clothing that reflects their individuality. The model is simple: donate, rework, create, wear.

Launch collection

• —Reworked patchwork jacket
• —Embellished denim pants
• —Jewelry-accented hoodie
• —Reconstructed top
• —Upcycled statement accessory

Target market

Customers aged 16–30 interested in streetwear, thrifting and vintage, sustainability, social media, art, music, and self-styling — reached through Instagram, TikTok, Depop, thrift stores, pop-up markets, and local creative spaces.

Pricing

• —Membership — $15/month
• —Individual pieces — $75–$200
• —Custom pieces — starting at $150

Competitive advantage

Competitors fall into two groups: Depop thrift resellers and fast-fashion brands such as Shein and Zara. The Aura Club combines exclusivity with sustainability, reworking donated pieces into statement designs and building community through members-only access.

The concept

Pass the Plate serves sandwiches inspired by different countries and cultures. Customers vote through a survey on the website, and the five most popular sandwiches become the featured menu for the next two weeks — a genuinely customer-driven business model.

Market research

• —Jerk Chicken — 31 votes
• —Shawarma — 23 votes
• —Chicken Katsu Sando — 21 votes
• —Cubano — 20 votes
• —38 survey participants; most willing to pay $8–$10 per sandwich

Signature menu

• —Jerk Chicken Sandwich — Jamaica
• —Shawarma — Lebanon/Syria
• —Chicken Katsu Sando — Japan
• —Cubano — Cuba/United States
• —Torta de Milanesa — Mexico

Loyalty & retention

The Pass the Plate Loyalty Program gives $1 off a meal deal and $1 off the special drink, one point per dollar spent, and a free sandwich at 100 points — designed to drive repeat purchases and long-term relationships.

Financial planning

The plan includes a profit-and-loss statement, balance sheet, budget, supplier information, and projections. At a 35% food cost, the concept operates on a 65% gross profit margin, with analysis of average rate of return, equipment payback period, net present value, cash flow, and liquidity.

My role

As Marketing Director, I shaped how Pass the Plate communicated its brand and connected with customers — social media, promotions, reviews, loyalty rewards, and event strategies such as Homecoming activations and catering.

The problem

Finding opportunities in the performing arts is difficult, especially for people without the financial resources or connections to access them.

The solution

AccessTheArt.com is a centralized platform where the performing arts community can discover free casting calls, workshops, blogs, groups, and job listings from employers, plus educational content on auditions, acting, and navigating the industry.

My role

As founder, I developed the idea and built the platform around its mission. The project has grown my skills in website development, communication, marketing, content creation, project management, and community engagement.

What I learned

Entrepreneurship is more than creating a product. It means identifying a problem, understanding the people you serve, developing a solution, communicating its value, and continuously improving it.