LAFAYETTE – Marcus Mire, a 2004 graduate of the LSU Department of Accounting and CPA firm owner, along with his wife, Stephanie, and their friends, Rye and Lainey Tuten, recently launched a children’s clothing company called JV Clothiers to fill a void in the boys’ collegiate apparel market.
“After much research, we learned that no company was producing high-quality collegiate attire for young boys. Our son had an LSU jersey, but we couldn’t find high-quality ‘preppy’ attire,” Mire, who is the director of finance and accounting for the company, explained. “Simply put, JV Clothiers was started by two moms and two dads who wanted more for their sons in terms of collegiate wear.”
According to Mire, the inspiration for becoming an entrepreneur began during his years as an undergraduate at LSU.
“I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” Mire said. “I took several classes that helped me, including an entrepreneurship course, and I was constantly surrounded by others who motivated me. I met so many people with different creative ideas, and my dream was to own my own business and inspire others to do the same one day.”
Within a week of developing the idea for JV Clothiers, the team formed an LLC, obtained a tax identification number and secured a domain name. They later received approval from the Collegiate Licensing Company, LSU and UL-Lafayette to produce boys’ gingham and solid-colored shorts, polo shirts and belts with the schools’ logos. Mire considered this a significant step for JV Clothiers because more than 2,500 companies are already licensed to produce a wide range of products, leaving room for only those companies with a new or unique product, as well as the necessary production and distribution capabilities.
“Our plan is to continue to add schools to our line-up,” Stephanie Mire, a 2004 LSU mass communication graduate and JV Clothiers director of marketing and brand management, said. “We were very surprised to learn that there was such a void within universities for this young boys’ market, and we know there are many other parents wanting to dress their son in their school colors.”
JV Clothiers gear will be sold online at www.jvclothiers.com or found in children’s boutiques in Lafayette and Baton Rouge.
The Department of Accounting at LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business strives for excellence in teaching, research and service to the accounting profession. With a mission of producing graduates at all levels who excel in their pursuits, the department offers undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for careers in various fields including industry, auditing, finance, government and academia. For more information, visit www.bus.lsu.edu/accounting, call 225-578-6202, or e-mail accounting@lsu.edu.
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