Starting your own business while still in college has its perks, especially when you can apply your class lectures to your business model.
That’s exactly what marketing sophomore Marissa Wehrer, creator of local jewelry company Geo By Riss, did when she put down her homework and picked up a sketchpad.
Wehrer said she brainstormed business models before deciding to pitch the idea to her father in May 2015.
“I was in my dorm drawing up sketches, being sneaky so my roommate wasn’t like, ‘What are you doing?’” Wehrer said.
Wehrer said her entrepreneur father repeatedly told her she needed to work for herself and start her own business. The jewelry designer’s mother also picked up the craft before her. With her mother’s help and her father’s motivation, she decided she was ready to start Geo By Riss.
Wehrer said she often correlates her major to her business and incorporates what she’s taught in classes into her company. Geo By Riss prominently uses advertising through social media sites because she realizes her generation reacts to them the most, Wehrer said.
Geo By Riss’ jewerly is centered around stones, and Wehrer said she draws inspiration from Kendra Scott and Seaside Pearls and would love for her company to expand to be as large as them.
“I wanted an everyday line of jewelry,” Wehrer said. “I saw some companies put a pearl on a piece of leather and make millions off of it, and I thought, ‘Why can’t I do that with a gem and some leather?’”
Being a businesswoman, Wehrer said she does have a back-up plan if jewelry isn’t the end of her entrepreneurial endeavors.
“If I could start a jewelry line that lasts forever, then that would be great,” Wehrer said. “But my real dream is to open a bridal salon. I do want to own a business, but this jewelry brand could be more of a beginning step.”
The designer said she thinks more college students should start a business while taking classes. While it can be challenging to balance at times, Wehrer said she learned more from this business than she has in her classes.
Wehrer said she has no regrets starting Geo By Riss early in her career and recommends students start as early as possible if they want their own business so they don’t miss out on anything just because they waited.
“Just go for it,” Wehrer said. “I know it takes money, but it costs less than going to a winter intersession. I’m getting so much out of it.”
She said she never thought the company would get big enough for people to know about it. Looking toward the future, the designer said while her education and business continues, she will continue to grow Geo By Riss for as long as it is successful.
Geo By Riss does not currently have any retailers, but the jewelry is online at geobyriss.com.
Wehrer will be participating as a vendor at the Delta Zeta Mocktails event on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. This will be the company’s first trunk show appearance.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Emily Brauner

LSU marketing sophomore Marisa Wehrer will appear at Delta Zeta's Mocktails on Monday, Oct. 27 to sell her new jewelry line, Geo by Riss.