The AC Market was held in the Student Commons this year and while business was slower than it has been in the past, Algonquin’s participating entrepreneurs enjoyed the experience.
Jackey Leung, a business administration student, set up a table offering eggrolls of different kinds as exposure for his small Chinese takeout, Eggroll Factory.
It was Leung’s first time participating in AC Market. “I got an email and thought, that’s me!” he said.
Another participant in the AC Market was John Keane, a hospitality and tourism student selling premium quality loose leaf tea.
Keane heard about AC Market through his program’s chairs. Having created his company in September 2015, Keane has been part of AC Market once before and also has outside experience.
“I’ve done a few other shows,” said Keane, “but AC Market was the most popular.”
Minh Phan, a business management and entrepreneurship student, had a table set up for Cute Design Pillows, her company.
Phan also received an email from her program heads outlining the event and decided on selling pillows as gift ideas.
“I didn’t know what gift to give to people,” said Phan. “I wanted something that people can use.”
Alison Doyle, another business management and entrepreneurship student, returned to her third AC Market.
Her clothing company, Cure(d)2, is an avenue that Doyle uses in order to bring awareness to mental health and addiction, both of which Doyle has struggled with throughout her life.
‘In June 2015, Doyle donated $1,000 to the Royal Ottawa Hospital, which includes a percentage of Cure(d)2’s sales and money raised through a gofundme campaign.
This year, Doyle will donate 10 per cent of sales from the month of March to Do it For Daron.
Doyle sold more than $100 worth for her first AC Market, more than $600 during her second bout, but dropped to just above $500 on Feb. 10.
Location and timing were to blame for the drop, according to Doyle. “People in the commons come for Starbucks,” she said, “And its exam time now.”
But the drop wasn’t a major deterrent for Doyle. “[AC Market] has been a huge help,” said Doyle. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without it.”