Her Campus Mizzou: What inspired you to open a boutique?
Kiarah Moore: Basically my love for business. I want to eventually teach and own stores, so I can teach hands-on work in my own facilities.
HCM: What do you want to teach?
KM: I want to come up with an entrepreneurship program in fashion because there isn’t really a course that teaches you about financing your own business. Mizzou just opened an entrepreneurship minor last semester, and I think that’s good, but I want to somehow connect it to fashion.
HCM: How did you get your own store in the student center?
KM:  Through Mizzou’s Entrepreneurial Program. The process was to write and pitch a proposal about your marketing, finance and business plan. Then you were interviewed to see how confident and passionate you were about the business. I’m grateful that I got the space because a lot of people applied with great ideas. The space was granted to me for six permanent months and six optional months.
HCM: Why are the other six months optional?
KM:  You have to maintain good grades, be in good standing with the University and make sure your business isn’t competing with other businesses in the student center in order to be offered another six months in the space. It also depends on your revenue and finances, but I’m going to take it if offered regardless because I think it’s a great opportunity.
HCM: How have you tried to promote INDIEpendence?
KM:  A lot of interns will work with that. I’m working more behind the scenes. We supply an unpaid internship program that will allow students to use their ideas and creative sides. I displayed 50 applications outside the store the first week of class, and I’ve already gotten 20 back.
HCM: How many people do you have on your team?
KM: There are currently five people on the team, but we hope to get interns that have a passion for marketing, styling, photography or directing.
HCM: How do you receive funding?
KM: The University pays the rent and utilities, but I fund everything else, such as the paint, set-up and computer.
HCM: What’s currently sold in the shop?
KM:  Artwork from a student named Curtis Taylor, Indie brand T-shirts, a Florida brand called Seventh Inc. and my own brand Vory, but it’s getting revamped soon.
HCM: How do you plan to revamp Vory?
KM:  It’s going in a strictly limited-edition direction. It was on hold because I didn’t have the right funding, models, photographers and marketers to promote it. That’s where INDIEpendence stepped in. It’s an outlet for brands like Vory. Once it’s on its feet, it’ll be easy to make Vory more established.
HCM: What do you hope to sell in the near future?
KM:  I hope to sell all independent brands, but a lot of businesses want to make sure we fit their image before sending in merchandise. I’m currently looking at The Hundreds, Leaders, Arrogant Empire and a lot of MU-based brands from other students.
HCM: How has the traffic been the past week?
KM: The traffic has been what I expected it to be, which is not much. We just opened Aug. 30, and all the brands aren’t in here yet. This week we should be getting in Creatistic University, which is a brand from Chicago.
HCM: When do you expect to receive other brands?
KM:  When I hear back from companies about my proposal. Once the funding is more lucrative, I’ll be unstoppable, which will probably be within the next few weeks.
INDIEpendence store hours:
Closed Monday
Tuesday-Friday 2pm-8pm
Saturday 1pm-9pm
Sunday 12:30-5pm
INDIEpendence is currently seeking interns for the following fields:
Marketing/Sales
Finances
Creative Director/Team
Photographer/Videographer
Stylists/Makeup artist
Philanthropy/Community Service/Director
Public relations
Applications can be picked up in store.