Carson's Career Path: From Campus Manager to Entrepreneur

Carson Cooper is already on the track to become a serial entrepreneur.

At the young age of 20, Carson is a Finance student at the University of North Texas, works at Fresh Prints, owns a gym clothing brand, serves at a local restaurant, and is and is an executive member of his fraternity, Sigma Chi. Phew, take a breath, Carson!

But despite juggling all of that, Carson has managed to find the joy in everything he does and pick out his favorite gig among them all: working at Fresh Prints. 

As a part of Greek life, Carson enjoys connecting with other sororities and fraternities and helping them bring their custom T-shirt ideas to life. Around 600+ CMs at Fresh Prints are able to establish their client base and business on their campus and Carson has done the same at UNT.

Not only does the job bring him joy, but it's also helping him learn valuable skills like communication. 

Carson admits it's tough talking to so many people he doesn't know, but he's getting the hang of it. He's putting himself out of his comfort zone because he knows he's learning a lot in the process.

But Fresh Prints is just a part of the things that occupy Carson's time. He's also the founder of an apparel brand and an active member of his fraternity. How is he going to juggle it all?

The answer is not surprising but has to be said: Carson is the master of time management. 

He wakes up early, goes to bed late, and schedules out his days like nobody's business. On Mondays, he plans his entire week and sticks to it like glue. Sure, he may have to work on his clothing brand at midnight, but hey, that's just part of the hustle.

If you are a college student who’s got the same passion for self-employment as Carson does, then keep reading…’cause we’ve got some deets that will help you kickstart your entrepreneurial journey. 

What is it Really Like Being An Apparel Brand Owner? 

Aside from his custom apparel business, Carson owns a gym apparel brand called, "Areta".

When asked to define his business, Carson spoke of the name, meaning to live up to one's full potential or with excellence in mind. The meaning aligns with Carson's goal with the brand: pushing people to reach their fullest potential and inspiring them to be the best versions of themselves.

With his eyes shining bright and his voice full of enthusiasm, Carson unveiled his grand plan of opening a gym in the future, where he could help people grow and reach new heights. 

He was motivated by the desire to make a lasting impact on people's lives, and he believed that a gym that encouraged healthy living was the perfect way to do so.

When asked about his inspiration behind starting a gym, Carson replied with his signature smile, "I've always been a very motivational person, and I love to push people out of their comfort zones."

How Did He Come Up With The Business Idea?

Starting a business can be a daunting task, and Carson knows this all too well. Having already tried his hand at launching not one, but two clothing brands prior, he was determined to make the third time the charm.

After months of brainstorming and feeling a bit stuck, Carson stumbled upon the word "Areta." He thought to himself, "This word can mean something to people," and decided to run with it. And just like that, the idea for his latest clothing brand was born.

With the name settled, Carson still had a lot of work ahead of him. He reached out to his connections and decided to use his Fresh Prints knowledge and dip into manufacturing + shipping. From there, it was just a matter of putting in long hours and hard work to build the brand's website and get everything up and running.

They say the third time's a charm, and Carson proved that to be true with Areta. Since starting Areta, he has crossed over 10k in revenue by selling 300+ units. Infact, he sells on Shopify with a drop-based system.

"We operate on clothing drops that open up the store for a total of 4 weeks. When I don't have clothes to sell, the store is closed down. The next drop is planned for July!" Carson told us.

Who knew all it would take was stumbling upon a single word to kickstart a successful business venture?

What Did The Learning Curve Look Like For Carson? 

When he started his latest venture, he was able to draw on all his previous experience in trying to start 2 other clothing brands and his Fresh Prints experience to hit the ground running.

But it wasn't just about the threads, oh no. Carson also had a knack for logistics and design, which he honed through his work as a Campus Manager. He took those skills and applied them to his clothing brand, giving him an edge in areas like shipping and timelines.

And let's not forget about Carson's secret weapon: his social connections. As a frat brother at Sigma Chi and as a CM at Fresh Prints (you gotta talk to a lot of people to add value in both), he has more buddies than a Golden Retriever at a dog park. 

By working with his fraternity brothers and other fraternities and sororities, Carson was able to promote his brand and convert his network to his best customers.

Basically, Carson's success is a testament to his ability to leverage his past experiences and network in creative and strategic ways. He's proof that sometimes, the most unlikely combinations can yield the sweetest results. So if you're looking to start a business, take a page out of Carson's book and remember: it's all about learning from experience and working with your connections.

Does He Have Any Advice For Student Entrepreneurs, You Ask? 

Yes, he does! 

Let's say you're a fresh-faced college freshman with dreams of starting your own apparel business. It's a daunting task, but fear not, because Carson has some pearls of wisdom that will help you succeed.

First things first, he says, “Go out and talk to people.” Yep, actual human beings, not just the digital kind. For a business like Carson's, hitting up gym-goers at the gym and talking to them about his clothing brand did wonders.

But what about the dreaded R-word? Rejection, that is. It's inevitable when you're starting a business, but Carson has a solution: think of rejection as a stepping stone to a better product, not the end all be all. He recommends testing your products and learning from your mistakes. Because let's be real, you won't be raking in the dough right off the bat. But don't let that discourage you! Use those failures to fuel your fire and figure out how to fix whatever made them reject you.

So, if you're a newcomer to the ring and want to start your own apparel business, take Carson's advice and get out there and mingle. And when rejection rears its ugly head, remember to learn from it and keep on truckin'. 

And to make things a bit more clear for you, we asked Carson…

What Are The 3 Things You Should NOT Do As A Young Entrepreneur?

The entrepreneurial world is a lot like Shark Tank, especially for those diving into the apparel business. So, what advice does Carson, have for those brave enough to take the plunge?

Firstly - "Don't start your biz with your friends." Okay. That's a big one. 

Sure, they might be great for shooting the breeze with. But when it comes to doing some hard graft, it's harder to push someone you care about without it affecting the relationship. Instead, find a partner with the same level of motivation and commitment as you, even if it means networking and socializing with strangers.

Secondly, don't sit around waiting for customers to come knocking on your door. Your customers are not a group of carol singers. Go out there and interact, promote, and find your customers. This is very important, especially in the starting days of your startup. Success doesn't come easy, and you can't become the next Ralph Lauren overnight.

“The first few tries are also not going to work miracles. 99% of the time. So you got to keep trying keep trying new things and experimenting,” Carson adds.

Finally, have a niche! Without one, you're like a lone jellyfish floating in the ocean, directionless and destined to go nowhere. 

Make sure it's something you're passionate about or at the very least, know you wouldn't mind investing your time and energy into. But it's important to have a niche so your business can stand out like a zebra at a horse show.

What got Carson his drive and work ethic?

Carson credits his experience as Campus Manager at Fresh Prints (not sponsored lol) in helping him build expertise in the manufacturing and designing process of his business.

If you don't know, Campus Managers are students who work are employed by Fresh Prints to build their merch businesses on their campuses. This includes sales, art, logistics, campaigns, and more. Carson particularly picked up a lot about dealing with manufacturing, logistics, and teams, thanks to his time spent on the back end of the production process.

With that kind of knowledge at just 20 years of age, he's got a leg up on the competition when it comes to pricing his products. He knows what's gonna sell and what's not worth bothering with.

But that's not all. Carson's also a pro at making connections - especially with the sororities and fraternities he works with to get them custom apparel using Fresh Prints. 

He's learned how to orchestrate the shirts and other goodies they order, getting everything just right for his clients. And when it comes to fulfilling orders, he's a master. He makes sure everything looks good, the products get delivered on time, and his customers are as happy as clams.

Carson's also learned a thing or two about making clients happy. He knows how important it is to interact with them, build a relationship, and make things personal. It's all about that personal touch - and Carson's got it down pat.

In fact, it seems that Carson has been busy peddling his wares as a CM since September of last year. And, despite the fact that his campus isn't exactly a hotbed of activity, he's managed to pull off an impressive feat: he's raked in a cool $24,677 in sales this semester as a CM. And, while he's only worked with a handful of sororities and fraternities (around seven to twelve, to be precise), he's managed to grow his custom apparel sales steadily.

It seems like Carson's got a real knack for this sales stuff. Sales helps build so many transferrable skills that we recommend you start learning how to make your first sale even if you never get into sales. To name a few: confidence, communication skills, and negotiation skills.

Want to know more about what it’s like being a Campus Manager? Learn how Elysia built a $113k+ merch empire as a campus manager at Rice.

Carson's Recommends These 3 Must-reads For A Budding Entrepreneur

• Think and Grow Rich book by Napoleon Hill.
• How to Win Friends & Influence People book by Dale Carnegie.
• The 48 Laws of Power book by Robert Greene.

Carson has found a gem of a quote that he lives by, and he's not shy about sharing it with us. 

“Don't worry about something for five minutes that won't matter in five years.”

This quote is a reminder to Carson that life is too short to sweat the small stuff. And when you think about it, most things in life fall into that category. So why waste time and energy on things that won't matter in the long run?

So the next time you find yourself stressing over something, take a page out of Carson's book and ask yourself, "Will this matter in five years?" If the answer is no, then let it go and move on with your day. Your future self will thank you.

And if you're already reading the book on Carson (considering you're taking a page out of there), consider taking a chance at student entrepreneurship. Apply to become a Campus Manager.