New Wildcat Market Opens Sept. 1

The Wildcat Market, a new monthly entrepreneurial fair where students, faculty/staff and student organizations can sell goods and services they create, will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, in the Academic Mall (rain site: lower level of the Learning Resources Center). 

“The Center for Student Enrichment was contacted by the College of Business to investigate the feasibility of hosting a fair on campus," said coordinator Victoria Leonhardt. "The idea came from a staff member who saw something similar at the University of South Florida. Our office and the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship applied for and received a Wildcat Innovation Fund grant. Over the summer, we’ve been working toward setting up the policies and procedures and are excited for the market to open.”

The registration fee is $20. Leonhardt said Dining Services has agreed to assist students who want to make food products by selling them ingredients to ensure safety and allowing them to use the kitchens for preparation. This applies to the Wildcat Market only, not traditional bake sales.

Dave Bonsall (Center for Student Enrichment) stressed the educational value for students: "The ultimate goal of the Wildcat Market is to encourage and help them learn about entrepreneurship—looking at a good or service they or their student organization sells and determining, with some follow-up lessons, how their effort can be expanded as a fundraiser and potentially as a career. Along the way, the Wildcat Market will provide some individual students and student organizations with some funds and add another community-building activity at NMU.”

For more information on guidelines, registration and the remaining monthly schedule, visit Wildcat Market.