Candles, earrings, cupcakes, bagels and more will all be on display come Mar. 4 when Shop the Loop 2.0 takes over the LaRita Boren Campus Center yet again.
After the first Shop the Loop, Donna Downs, department co-chair and associate professor of communication said many people were curious who would take over Shop the Loop to keep the event on campus.
Because the event was originally put on by a Public Relations class in the communication department, Downs made the decision to allow Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) to head it up for this spring.
“I think (Shop the Loop) was a very successful event and it is something that highlights our students’ gifts and I think that is important,” Downs said.
Downs said that PRSSA appreciates that the planning and added that promoting the Loop helps other people in the process.
A marketplace for student products and services was the original tag line for this event, but in the 2.0 edition of this event, faculty and staff have been invited to also showcase their talents.
One staff member who has decided to share her gifts with the community is Cathy Mitchell, a housekeeper in Breu.
Mitchell’s specialty is bagel making, which originated fifteen years ago when she and her husband were in Romania craving bagels but were not able to buy some anywhere around them.
There was a recipe in a cookbook that was simple to make, and after conquering the recipe, the Mitchells quickly found that they enjoyed making the bagels. This led them to begin making bagels not only for themselves but for other expatriates who were also in their community.
While selling bagels was not originally a business, Mitchell says she hopes she can still hopes to serve the community during the Shop the Loop event. Her sharing mentality is what really drove her to buy a table at Shop the Loop 2.0.
“I hope to provide fresh bagels on campus and enjoy shopping at the other tables,” Mitchell said.
Another vendor that is focused on sharing their gifts is 516 Candles, who are returning after their success at Shop the Loop last semester. 516 Candles has decided to sell again because they believe Shop the Loop provides a platform to sell candles as consumers are able to actually hold and smell the candles.
A goal of 516 Candles is to sell over 50 candles at this event. Senior Mikey Maloney, co-founder of 516 Candle, says that selling over 50 candles will provide over 50 pairs of gloves to the homeless, as a portion of all candles sold always helps the homeless in Indy.
One difference about Shop the Loop 2.0 is that any donations made during the event will be supporting scholarships in the communication department.
The Jumping Bean will also be donating 10% of all of their sales during the event to communication scholarships. In the fall, donations supported those impacted on campus by Hurricane Dorian.
“(Shop the Loop) is an event by the students for the students,” Downs said. “We believe in helping students afford education. It may be small, but it will still help.”
Stop by Shop the Loop 2.0 on Mar. 4, from 5:30-7 p.m. The event will span out in the dining area of the Campus Center, around the Jumping Bean and down the hall by the TSO office.
Downs said, show up, have fun, and be generous in support of the cause.
