Morgan First, a spunky redhead from Los Angeles, means business. First graduated from Emerson College in Boston in 2005 with two majors, three minors, and a business plan for her own publishing company. With focus and determination, she started her own business,1st Publications, at 22 years old. First has been obsessed with publishing ever since she could remember. When she was in third grade, she helped start a newspaper club at her elementary school. While most kids couldn’t wait to go home after school, First was busy making sure her school had a student voice. But her passion for the industry became serious in high school, when she heard that the editor of CosmoGirl! magazine was only 25 years old. It gave her inspiration to go full force with her publishing dream. After graduating high school, First attended Emerson College for its strong publishing program and flexible curriculum. “I’m kind of crazy,” says First, who double majored in WLP (writing, literature and publishing), and marketing communication, and minored in photography, entrepreneurship, and management. If you didn’t think that was enough to handle, she was the co-president and publisher of Developed Images, a photography group at Emerson College. And did I mention she graduated early? First decided to graduate a semester ahead to start her company, 1st Publications. “My parents were really great and helped me out in the beginning,” says First. She managed to convince her parents to help her start her business with the money they would have spent on her last semester at college. She also hired a staff of about 10 dedicated interns to help her get the business off the ground. Her love of traveling and exploration led her to begin her first product of 1st Publications, MAP (Motion Affair Planner) Boston. MAP Boston is a weekly agenda and guide for both tourists and city locals. “There are so many people who live in Boston, but are originally from somewhere else. MAP Boston is written in a tone for even if you live in the city, you can always find cool new things,” says First. “It empowers people.” MAP Boston includes a variety of activities to try, like finding an authentic Mexican restaurant or the perfect vintage shop. First and her staff put the guide together by exploring the different neighborhoods of Boston, and gathering advice from the true locals. Her goal was to find the gems of each Boston neighborhood, from the North End to the Back Bay. Not only did First organize and produce the publication, but she directed the marketing and distribution departments. She got her product sold in Barnes & Noble and local Boston bookstores. “It was an awesome learning experience. I met so many amazing people,” says First.
After publishing three editions of MAP Boston, First decided to take her experience to the next level. She ended 1st Publications, and became the co-founder and marketing and community director of The Second Glass (TheSecondGlass.com), a web and print publication in Boston, with her friend Tyler Balliet in 2008. “The Second Glass is about making wine fun and approachable for young people, versus the usually pretentious attitudes,” says First. Her experience at 1st Publications allowed her to begin The Second Glass with more business knowledge. As her second start-up business, First hopes to see The Second Glass grow faster than 1st Publications — with the help of a great team. “With The Second Glass I was lucky enough to have lots of fantastic interns who helped us build much of what we have today at little to no cost,” said First. “Tyler and I have worked very hard to pick great interns who were hardworking and in turn give them a great resume or skill-building experience. Ironically enough, with our over 15 or so Second Glass interns thus far, only two have been boys — and many of the girls have commented on what an empowering experience it was to work with our company.” The Second Glass teaches crash courses in wine once a week in Boston, such as Sweet and Tasty Holiday Dessert Wine right before the holidays, and hosts wine events in Boston called Wine Riots, which are fundraisers for the company. The money generated from the Wine Riots and the weekly crash courses are what help fund the company. First and Balliet are currently in the process of pitching to investors and expanding their publication nationally.
“Don’t ever think any dream is too big. Start small, and it will lead to big things,” says First on what advice she would give fellow young entrepreneurs. “As a female, don’t think being the only girl at times is a disadvantage, use it to your advantage. Become confident and positive about your company, and people will catch on.” In addition to The Second Glass, First is a part of the Extreme Entrepreneurship Education Corp., where she tours college campuses to speak on young entrepreneurship. Source: Morgan First TheSecondGlass.com
