Saint Anselm junior Olivia Habig has taken the entrepreneurial path to start her own business, selling products to consumers from Saint Anselm and beyond. Employing creativity, business and marketing strategies, this Saint Anselm student has seen firsthand the success of her self-owned business. 

Habig, a junior marketing major, created an online business in April called “It’s Bow Time”, making sales on Instagram to Saint Anselm students. As of right now, the business’s products focus on “cute dorm posters, [that] are more locally themed so that people feel more comfortable and at home in their dorm rooms,” Habig said. 

Personalization for consumers and the locally themed posters follow trends that appeal to students, as well as the name of the business. The name, “It’s Bow Time”, comes “from the phrases ‘it’s show time’ and ‘it’s go time’,” Habig said, and she “wanted the name to have something trendy,” so “bow” was chosen for the title Habig said. Trendiness catches attention, and attention brings business. 

For customization, particularly for Saint Anselm students, Habig has “a Saint A’s collection where there are posters of CShop, Alumni Hall, and just things only Saint A’s students would know the meaning of. We also do customized posters too! Sometimes people want a collection inspired by their hometown, or even just an aesthetic that they want their room to be,” Habig said. 

As a first-time business owner, Habig does not work alone. To get the business going, “I knew that if I got a partner that we would have the possibility of growing even more,” Habig said, so she started the business up with her “best friend and partner, Liliana Bussiere.” Bussiere is now a sophomore at Endicott College, and “it has been so fun working with her and we are able to collaborate very well together,” Habig said. 

Since April, “the business has been going so well,” Habig said. “The process of starting the business was not too hard,” Habig said, and “we tried to stay organized together and also help each other out the best we could when needed.” The collaborative effort allowed the two to create the products ahead of time to gradually post them for their audience. Efficiency and collaboration led to an effective schedule for the two. 

Though the primary inspiration for creating the business was “just the need of some pocket money,” Habig realized that she “really wanted to make something that people could put in their rooms,” Habig said. As a marketing major, Habig has “always grown up making my own small little businesses and thought people would enjoy this one,” Habig said. 

A lot of attention comes from students, particularly freshman and lowerclassmen, but the business has gained attention from other student-led organizations on campus. “We have had clubs ask us to create designs for them such as SNA. As well as The Men of Color group. They are holding a small business fair and invited us to be in it, which will be such a great experience!” Habig said. Business also comes from students at Endicott College, where co-owner Bussiere attends. 

Though products are limited to customized posters currently, plans are in the works to expand product types for consumers, and “we without a doubt plan on adding new items,” Habig said. “We want to do cute and trendy sweatshirts, trucker hats, stickers, and more posters! Check our Instagram @itsbowtimee for updates and to share your ideas with us!” Habig said. 

From learning how to get a business started to figuring out how to appeal to consumer audiences, the biggest lesson learned for the company owners is that “I learned to care more about the story of the product rather than caring about the money,” Habig said. 

“I love going into dorms and seeing posters I made and being able to create a connection with someone over them. It is also interesting to ask what made people pick the posters they picked. Also being able to make something that could make someone feel more at home brings me so much joy. It has been an awesome journey and we cannot wait to grow and see more posters in dorms!” Habig said. 

The support from fellow students and other community members has been pivotal for the success of Habig and Bussiere’s business. To purchase products, visit their Instagram page @itsbowtimee to find products that suit your taste and love for your Saint Anselm community.