The College Artisans Shop, a student-owned art and vintage store, opened its doors at a new storefront at 10 S. Poplar St. on April 1. The store is open daily from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 12 to 7 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

Behind the business are co-owners and Miami students Genevieve Gerenz and Julian Bradley. The two began the store in Armstrong Student Center before opening their first storefront at the Interfaith Center in September 2023. 

The duo began by selling their own personal works, jewelry and rings made from vintage spoons. After receiving positive reception to their own products, the duo wanted to give other students the opportunity for their products to be showcased. 

“We try to be very open to everything,” said Gerenz. “If you can make it sellable, we’ll take it, any medium we love to have.”

Pottery, poetry books, crochet animals, candles and paintings are just some of the student-produced works that can be found at the College Artisans Shop.

Their new location also allowed the pair to expand their vintage clothing section, which has become one of their best-selling categories. 

The College Artisans shop only takes consignments from artists who are Miami students. Almost 50 student artists are being showcased in their shop. 

Sophomore communication design major Abby Griffin began selling handmade tote bags at the College Artisans in the fall after seeing an advertisement for the shop in Miami’s art building. Griffin said guidance from Bradley and Gerenz helped inspire her to get involved.

“It was really nice to talk to them,” Griffin said. “They were kind of in the same situation where they started off smaller and turned it into making money.”

Unlike some similar businesses, the shop does not make students pay to carry their art in the store or make them spend time working at the shop. Artists forfeit a small percentage of their sales to the store. Bradley said the goal is to mitigate the potential risk for student artists.

“We really like the model where the only risk is nothing,” said Bradley.

Bradley and Gerenz said they aspire to have the shop become a larger part of not only the Oxford community, but to expand to other schools, like Cincinnati and Xavier. The College Artisans Shop’s products are also sold at the Findlay Market in Cincinnati, where the duo just got approved for a second booth to sell student work.