ColDesi Partners with Plymouth State University Students
The equipment purchase by the school for its MAPS group was a significant one, the university says.
Tampa, Florida-based ColDesi, a supplier of apparel decorating equipment for the embroidery and direct-to-garment markets, was with students at Plymouth State University, Plymouth, New Hampshire, for the grand opening of the group’s new decorated apparel shop, the Statehouse. Via a partnership with the Marketing Association of Plymouth State (MAPS) group, ColDesi is the single-source provider for the new business initiative.
Through the new initiative, students produce T-shirts, printed items, and embroidery for on-campus organizations, as well as clients in the area with ColDesi-provided equipment. The facility features various machinery from ColDesi including a direct-to-garment printer and multi-head embroidery machine. The group brands its custom clothing as The Statement.
“Our partnership with ColDesi is a great example of what we call an ‘open laboratory’ experience for our students where external partners play a major role in an experience the extends the classroom,” says Brad Allen, Ph.D., a professor of International Business at Plymouth.
Mark Stephenson, director of marketing at ColDesi, joined the students, Donald Birx, president of Plymouth State, and Paula-Lee Hobson, vice president of marketing and advancement, at the Sept. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony. The newly-renovated building provides a hub for students to produce their decorated apparel and tackle real-life business challenges such as deadlines, budgets, shipping issues, equipment training, and maintenance schedules.
“Being there for the official opening of the Statehouse was pretty incredible,” states Stephenson. “Professors (Gregory) Dumont, Allen, and the student members have created something really special. And, the Statehouse is a place that teaches important lessons in small business and marketing through the use of the custom T-shirt shop they’ve built.”
In addition to a new facility at Plymouth University, the business marks the first-ever entirely student-run business on campus.
To learn more about the grand opening, click here.
