Senior media studies major Jessica Saba offers students her product the Clicker Sticker, an alternative to this factory-standard white iClicker. (CU Independent illustration/Molly Maher)
Starting a business may be easier to do within modern day college campuses than one might predict.
“CU is an extremely supportive environment for student entrepreneurs,” said Jessica Saba, a senior media studies major and founder of the Clicker Sticker. “There are three things here that make it easy: the amazing supportive faculty that is always available as a resource, friends that serve as demographics and applying theoretical ideas learned in class to everyday situations.”
Jessica Saba has achieved what many students on campus hope to, creating a successful product to go along with the iClicker and starting a business she said she hopes will continue to grow. Saba is the creator of a product called the Clicker Sticker. It is a strong vinyl sticker that protects and decorates the iClicker.
“I was sitting in my Introduction to Journalism class second semester of sophomore year and noticed that there were 250 plain white clickers around the room. I thought it would be cool if everyone could personalize their iClickers,” Saba said.
Saba said she put her idea into effect because she wanted students to have something that personalized their iClickers.
Students agree that the Clicker Sticker is a hit.
“I think the Clicker Sticker is a great idea because I never get my iClicker confused with my roommate’s,” said Maggie Isaac, a freshman open-option major.
For Saba ,good business plans come in the family.
“I come from a family of entrepreneurs and I have always been on the lookout for an idea for starting a business. This was the first idea that made a lot of sense that I wanted to put into effect,” Saba said.
The summer after Saba’s sophomore year she began implementing her new business. She hired a graphic designer for the first 10 designs and then busied herself with trying to market her new product. She called buyers at bookstores to try to get the product into college bookstores. The bookstores were very receptive to Saba and eager to help out a CU student.
Other CU students were also receptive to Saba’s creation.
“What a simple yet innovative idea, I wish I had thought of it first,” said Meagan Kohls, a senior integrative physiology major.
Saba said that much of the success of the Clicker Sticker could be traced back to word of mouth. Students usually buy them when they spot the sticker at the bookstore she said. With the help of a friend, Saba created a Web site for Clicker Sticker where she receives orders from across the country.
“My friend had a Clicker Sticker and I was really impressed by the design, so I went and got one,” said Scott Valentine, a freshman open-option major.
Saba said she hopes her success encourages others to try out their ideas.
“Any student who has an idea should just try it,” Saba said.
Saba said her biggest challenge lies in time management. She also said that as a full-time student there are instances where she wishes she could devote more attention to her business.
“After I graduate I would like to get a business loan and invest all my time because as a full-time student it’s hard to commit to a business,” Saba said. “I hope to get (iClickers) to more bookstores across the country.”
Saba said she focuses on having designs that appeal to everyone. She met an artist, Matt Righter, at the Book End café, and asked him to create designs for the Clicker Sticker. She also said friends suggest ideas to her as well, which help her immensely in generating trendy designs.
Saba said she takes pride in her hard work and is always happy to see someone using her product.
“It’s so satisfying when my friends tell me they are sitting in class and they see someone with a Clicker Sticker,” she said. “I love hearing that people are satisfied and curious about the product.”
The iClicker is used by more than 500 universities around the country and by more than 500,000 students across North America. Saba has recently released new designs including a snowboarding, skiing and climbing design. The Clicker Stickers can be found in the UMC Book Store.
“Owning a business is really similar to writing a story,” Saba said. “You go from one person to the next finding where the interest is.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Elana Staroselsky at Elana.Staroselsky@colorado.edu.
