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Bellarmine athlete opens small business


Hannah Brown works on a Halloween sweatshirt order.


By: Alaina Schmitt


Volleyball player Hannah Brown wakes up at 5:30 a.m. for practice at 6, attends class from 9 to 10:40, joins her team for a workout from 11 to noon, goes back to class from 12:15 to 4:20, and then spends the rest of her day studying and doing homework.

And she still finds time to run her business.

Brown started Poppy Wear, an embroidery company, in July 2022. She has sold nearly 70 items, all of which are embroidered bags, clothes or hats. Brown created Poppy Wear as a creative outlet to spice up her life.

“I was feeling a really big lull in my life. I was tired of having to practice, study and repeat,” said Brown.

Poppy Wear is a way for her to make money while expressing herself through artwork and getting a break from the monotony of everyday life.

Poppy Wear got its name because Brown’s mom almost named her Poppy but said she feared it would be too different. Brown said, “I wanted to name my business after that because it was me doing something unique and different.”

After buying an embroidery machine and selling only four pieces in the first few weeks, Brown said she began to question whether she made the right decision. However, she continued to create pieces, and the business grew. Brown went through different struggles starting her business and said, “The advice I would give out is do not stop if you have doubt. Just keep trying because obviously you did it for a reason.”

Managing a business while being a college athlete can be difficult, but Brown’s teammate Macie Garrison said Brown’s organizational skills are a reason for her success. “I think Hannah is super-organized and knows what she needs to do to succeed. She holds herself to a super-high standard and always manages to meet the mark,” Garrison said.

Brown said one of the biggest challenges with starting her business was spreading the word. She used social media as a way to make people aware of her business, but support from friends and family has been important to her success.

Brown’s roommate Maddie Mumford said, “Ways I support her is by reposting her [on social media] and buying her products. If you all want to support her as well, make sure to follow her on Instagram, repost her stuff and order something.”

Customers can order products by messaging Brown on the @poppy.wear account on Instagram. Buyers can customize a design or purchase a design by Brown.

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