Camille Serrecchia, ’12, has always loved keeping up with fashion, but as a student at Bridgewater State University, she never could have guessed her passion would lead to a small business venture.
That happened in late 2014, when the Fall River resident came up with the idea of selling clothes out of a “fashion truck” that she would bring to fairs, festivals, and other special events. In the past two years, Ms. Serrecchia has taken The Chic Stop– the converted U-Haul truck she dubs “a shop on wheels” – to venues across the region.
“It definitely has its challenges, but it’s certainly rewarding,” she said, citing in particular the satisfaction of operating the business herself. “I choose what events to go to, I choose all the merchandise.”
Ms. Serrecchia sells women’s clothes purchased from online wholesalers, including dresses and casual wear, along with accessories and such gift items as prints and cards.
She said her business model stems from the insight that “people who pose themselves on social media don’t like to pose with the same outfits twice.” So, she offers them “trendy and affordable” clothes they can purchase quickly in the spirit of online shopping.
Ms. Serrechia, who also works full time for a wholesale shoe company, honed her knowledge of fashion through eight years as a department store sales clerk starting in high school. At BSU, where she majored in communications, she wrote a fashion column for The Comment.
In 2014, Ms. Serrechia left her department store job, feeling she had “plateaued” at the company. While interning for a public relations firm, she happened to see a television show about women operating fashion trucks.
“I thought that was a cool idea. I started making a business plan and went out and bought a truck the next week,” she said.
Ms. Serrechia said many of her classes at BSU exposed her to the tools that have helped her business, from event planning and fundraising to graphic design.
In addition to the chance to run her own business, Ms. Serrrechia said she enjoys the camaraderie she has developed with three other women who operate fashion trucks at many of the same venues.
“We work together and are there for each other,” she said.
