The Story Behind Scallop Gift Boxes

I've recently started my 9th year teaching Creating a Company, which is a very non-theoretical class where students come up with ideas, test them with customers, prototype, pitch real investors (and entrepreneurs) for real funding, and become profitable. It all happens in six months and it's pretty wild. 

 

To start a company that can be profitable in less than six months from inception, you're probably focused on food or apparel. Funding is limited to $1,500-7,000, so it has to be something you can be scrappy about. The other thing it takes is the willingness to do the gritty work. There's no outsourcing; from creation to sale, everyone does everything. 

 

It's hard, and it's a lot of work, but there's magic to the class. With a lot of accountability and a tested path, impressive things can happen. In fact, almost everyone who has taken the class has been profitable.

 

Over the years, I've used the framework to play with my own business ideas, which is how I started Scallop. Between being a busy mom (and designated family gift-giver) and managing bulk gifting in the professional world, I know how much effort goes into finding something special. And it's even more work to make it look beautiful.

 

The start of a new school year brings new hope and fond memories. It's especially fun to think that Scallop was once just an idea I was testing alongside my students. Now, heading into another holiday season, I'm excited to see what this next chapter holds!