KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Meet Abigail Jaqua. She is currently a student at Western Michigan University, and a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At 19-years-old, she is already running her own successful business after deciding to get productive, instead of down, when COVID-19 threw a wrench into her freshman year of college in 2020.
To give some back story, Abigail has been an ambitious and hard-working person since a young age. She began her first job when she was just 14 years old, which she attributes to strong motivation from her parents. And when she was a senior in high school, she first had the idea of starting her own unique clothing business for women.
Abigail was sent back home to Wisconsin from college in February of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started to accelerate across the U.S. and world. That’s when she not only went to work but also started mulling about how to start this business she had thought of in high school. After taking a job at Amazon and working overtime hours whenever she could to save money, she started aiming back at her business idea and moved into the execution phase.
Her online business, Atomic Seirra, launched in December of 2020, and in just a few months has shown impressive growth as the company sells women’s clothing by focusing heavily on diversity and also using environmentally friendly products related to clothes, including using organic cotton and recycled material, among other earth-conscious products. And she says this only the beginning and a foundation for where her vision for the business is going.
Abigail Jaqua – Courtesy Menyeneabasi Akpan of SHOTBYBASI photos
Abigail says clothing is just the vehicle as the business also aims to help people grow and see their own potential through this digital outlet and by spreading positive ideas and stories. She wants it to be an experience and inspiration for people who do business with her. One unique aspect of the business is that they use responsible practices related to the environment, are focused on fair wages, and only use products made in the United States. As she looks to take Atomic Seirra to the next level and grow, she plans to continue finishing her college education.
After returning to Kalamazoo and to W.M.U., Abigail met and joined a local internship called Student Painters through a program called Young Entrepreneurs Across America. She says the internship will help her learn more in-depth knowledge of running a business. It will also give her the opportunity to earn tuition money for the next two years of schooling.
This internship will help me develop additional skills running a business in order to help me grow Atomic Sierra in the future and avoid becoming stagnant. It will also give me the opportunity to earn money to pay for the next two years of classes in which I hope to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in Sales & Business Marketing.
Student Painters is unique due to the fact that they focus on hiring local students who are looking to earn money for college.
Abigail’s biggest message to anyone who is having a tough time during this pandemic, especially high school and college students, is that she truly believes that if you have an idea, put your mind to it, and put all of your efforts into it, you can do whatever you set your mind to. She hopes people she connects with or comes across, as she continues building this business, will take that advice and do something positive, because it is so important. Especially during this challenging time.
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