The newest addition to the MU Student Center this year, Novelty Boutique, is packed to the brim with all things salient and unique. The boutique’s lineup of merchandise includes coffee mugs, jewelry and umbrellas.
The prominent location for the shop this year was a reward given by the Missouri Student Unions Entrepreneurial Program.
The program is intended to nurture creativity among MU students and offer them a high-traffic venue in the MU Student Center to fulfill their entrepreneurial endeavors, according to the Missouri Student Unions website.
Juniors Tank Zhu, Yang Han and Hanjie Xiao earned the right to set up shop in the much-coveted location.
“We are good friends,” Zhu said of his relationship with his co-founders. “A year ago we just decided to do something.”
A lot of research went into deciding what products to feature in the store, Zhu said.
“We did research on marketing surveys,” he said, noting the young entrepreneurs paid special attention to students and faculty. “Novelty stuff is very popular.”
The co-founders import their products from China, Korea and Japan, Zhu said.
Novelty Boutique also aims to disseminate Chinese culture and aid in communications between China and the United States, according to its flyer.
To accomplish these goals, Novelty Boutique might need to bring in more business. Zhu said business has been light so far this semester.
“Next month, we hope to import more stuff, maybe,” he said. “We’re new, so the direction isn’t sure yet.”
Some students, such as junior Meagan Stamm, are not aware Novelty has opened.
“I’m not in here too much, and I don’t really go to that side of the Student Center,” Stamm said.
Other students, such as sophomore Brooke Schwab, have tastes that deviate from the boutique’s merchandise.
“I’m not that interested in what they’re selling,” she said. “It’s not really my style.”