Original jewelry designs by 12-year-old Maddy Drye will be for sale at a weekend trunk show inside the campus bookstore as part of ongoing university support of youth entrepreneurship in the Alamance County community.
A seventh grader from Alamance County who designs and markets her own jewelry is holding a trunk show in Elon’s Barnes & Noble shop over Homecoming weekend as part of broader university efforts to promote youth entrepreneurship on campus and beyond.
Twelve-year-old Maddy Drye, the daughter of a former Elon University staff member, started the e-commerce business “Dandy Designs” in February after making a pair of earrings for her mother that sparked interest from other friends and neighbors.
Drye’s trunk show takes place Friday, Oct. 16, from 12-6 p.m and again on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the bottom of the bookstore’s escalator; also find “Dandy Designs” on Facebook.
Drye was invited to host a trunk show at Barnes & Noble on Williamson Avenue when her work was recently spotted by Assistant Vice President Chris Fulkerson and his wife during a Fourth Friday event in Burlington, N.C.
“What an incredible story and a great opportunity to help a young, local entrepreneur,” said Fulkerson, who oversees Elon’s administrative services, including the bookstore.
Maddy Drye said the original goal of her online business was to save money for a leadership program in Massachusetts. “Originally I thought it would just be a small business,” she said. “I never thought it would be anything big.”
Jocelyn Drye thanked the university for its support of her daughter’s burgeoning enterprise.
“I thought this was an amazing opportunity,” Jocelyn Drye said. “I’m glad that Elon is supporting my daughter and showing their support for younger generations of businesspeople … I think this experience will help her gain confidence.”