HIGH POINT – If you think that balancing a full-time college workload and numerous campus activities can be time consuming, try launching a new business on top of it all.

That’s what four students at High Point University are doing with a new clothing company they’ve created called Port Southern LLC.

“I’ve always wanted to be part of a clothing company,” said Steven Beck, a junior at the university and president of the company. “Once this idea began, it just hasn’t stopped.”

As a college student, Beck decided he was tired of buying the low-quality clothing typically designed for his age group.

Two of his friends, Zach Moore and Nick Ruden, both seniors at the university, agreed with Beck and joined in on the idea one year ago. The trio began to organize the company shortly thereafter. Jeremy Hiatt, a senior and accounting major, joined in the summer to handle the company’s accounts.

“We were tired of products that would shrink, fade, fall apart and tear up over time,” Beck said. “We wanted to create an elite brand of clothing of truly high-quality essentials.”

As native North Carolinians, the four designed clothing they say reflects Southern hospitality, using a pineapple as the company’s signature logo. To manufacture their product, they sought items from a manufacturing facility in China. Once the products arrive, they are further assembled by the students.

“Our ultimate goal, which would be a really high one, would be to have a manufacturing facility here in High Point,” Beck said. “More realistically, we would like to employ some people to assemble the clothing and help us fulfill orders in the future.”

A line of men’s shirts and croakies for sunglasses were revealed at the company’s launch Tuesday evening, held at the university. They said more products, including a line of women’s clothing, will follow in the spring.

“We want to be a niche product that stays in the boutiques that are popular in the South,” Beck said, noting that the items are available in High Point at Lindsay Odom Unlimited.

A portion of each purchase also will be donated to the Pineapple Fund, a branch of the company that donates money to the High Point Community Foundation.

When it comes to balancing school work, Moore said he and his partners manage because they are all passionate about their company.

“It’s difficult, and we are all in different places in life. But if it’s something we really want, we are willing to do it,” he said.

phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617

PORT SOUTHERN

–

Type of company: Fine Clothing

President: Steven Beck

Director of marketing: Nick Ruden

Director of finance: Zach Moore

Director of accounting: Jeremy Hiatt

WHERE TO BUY

–

Port Southern clothing items are available at Lindsay Odom Limited in High Point and on the company’s Web site at: www.portsouthern.com

A portion of each purchase will go to the company’s Pineapple Fund, which feeds into the High Point Community Foundation and various causes within the community.