By Jeremy Binning
SUNY Plattsburgh is filled with talent as well as entrepreneurs. Some of these student entrepreneurs come from all over the world and find themselves searching for services that they would normally find easily at home. Being in the North Country, a lot of these services aren’t available. The beauty of this student body is that you often could find something you need at an affordable price as well.
Enchanted by Bella is an independent hair business that is run by Isabella Perez. Perez, a senior computer security major, is a hair stylist who is in her senior year. She has been doing hair professionally for the last four years. As she began her college career, she started focusing more on her business as well as her studies, and has grown into one of the most successful hair businesses on the campus.
“When I was younger, I used to play with my friends’ hair all the time, braiding it and trying new styles until I actually became good at it,” she recalled, “people would tell me to take it more seriously because they thought I was good, so I did.”
Perez feels that being in Plattsburgh helped her meet some amazing clients and also built friendships in the process. Recently, she began doing giveaways to expand her business across campus.
Plattsburgh helped her meet some amazing clients and also built friendships in the process. Recently, she began doing giveaways to expand her business across campus.
As her senior year continues, Perez hopes to continue the success of her business well after her college years.
“Although my business has nothing to do with my major, I do enjoy styling hair and hope to one day maybe own my salon where I don’t always have to come in but still be able to do hair,” Perez said.
Aside from personal care, the talent levels around campus are just as easy to find. Justin Duval, a junior from The Bronx, New York, has a photography business that has taken off in the past year. Starting after the pandemic, Duval has been into photography since he got his first camera in 2021. Since then, he has been spending his free time traveling around New York City when he’s back at home taking pictures.
“I don’t necessarily have a motive as to why I take pictures…if I see a shot that catches my eye I take it and it almost always is what I want,” Duval said.
Duval has his own Instagram page @visionary_jab and posts all of his work there with captions that fit what he’s depicting in his images.
“I try to always tell a story whenever I upload my work. The captions and the pictures have to go hand in hand so whoever’s viewing it could create their version of how they interpret,” Duval said. “I’m just giving a little context to help people expand on their own.”
Entrepreneurs are on every corner of campus and it’s a healthy way for students to interact with one another while creating a bond. Whether it’s getting your hair done for a night out or having your picture taken by someone with a professional feel, SUNY Plattsburgh’s campus is filled with endless possibilities thanks to these small businesses that keep the student body thriving.
