The Marketplace: A Free Professional Clothing Store For Students

The Marketplace, a free professional clothing store, will be launched in the Paul Conn Student Union, from 11:45 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 11. Sponsored by the Center for Calling and Career, the Marketplace was created to help students feel confident as they dress to impress the professional world.

The day after launch, appointments will become available for students to sign up in Handshake, a job board appointment software. Staff will be ready to help students navigate the marketplace and find tools for success in the professional world.

India Durden, Financial Aid Counselor, pioneered the idea for the Marketplace. Kristen Pope, Director of the Center of Calling and Career, and Mallory Smolen, Administrative Assistant for the Center for Calling and Career, partnered with Durden to bring her dream to life.

During the summer of 2022, Durden reached out to Smolen with the idea.

“The idea came from actually working here in the Financial Aid office and seeing students … really in need. We already have the food bank that a lot of students already go to. Let's literally show them that we care even more by physically putting clothes on their back,” said Durden. 

Faculty and staff have been the primary contributors of the Marketplace.

“I think that will be a great continued partnership just across the campus to support students even if you know regardless of where they land on campus, they were all invited to participate in help,” said Smolen.

Smolen expressed the excitement from faculty and staff about being a part of the store. They are bringing in dry cleaned excellent or good professional clothes as well as monetary donations. There is also an Amazon wishlist where people can purchase clothes online, according to Smolen.

“Someone helped me to teach me what to wear and professional etiquette. And my story was being told to a few faculty members who had the same story, and I was like, ‘well look at us.’ We're literally starting what someone poured into us into students,” said Smolen.

The logistics and vision were brought to life when Durden communicated with Pope and Smolen. “Partnering with the Calling and Career Center has really been the best thing for this idea that I had,” said Durden.

“[Durden] was really the driving force behind all of it. We're just kind of providing the space and hopefully the structure to where it can last beyond any of us who are involved in it. And I feel like when other people have a passion project, the best thing you could do is say yes, right?” said Pope.

Lee University’s goal of cultivating responsible Christians who will change the world includes “helping students recognize opportunities and feel like they have the tools to get there,” said Pope. “Part of those tools are resumes, interviews, but part of those are also just like, can you walk the walk and look the part?”

The Marketplace will also help students afford a professional wardrobe on a college budget. Smolen said, “It feels like a way to kind of reduce some of that financial strain or stress for students, but I think it feels like it just emphasizes the way that the Lee community exists and chooses to support people.'' 

Appointments will always be available for students to continue their connection with the Center of Calling and Career to use the resources housed there.

For further information, contact the Center for Calling and Career located downstairs in the Paul Conn Student Union or through email: ccc@leeuniversity.edu, or visit their Instagram or website.