Most college students start to worry about job interviews as their graduation day nears. But before 91²Ö¿â alumna Anne (Skoch) Johnson had even entered her senior year, her post-graduation employment plans were already mapped out.
A 2018 Honors College graduate who majored in fashion merchandising and minored in entrepreneurship, Johnson began sewing and crafting as a teen. While a student at 91²Ö¿â, she was able to combine her love of crafting with her newfound design and business skills to launch the Anne Cate brand, which sells popular skyline silhouette pillows, zippered bags and other accessories.
As her business grew, Johnson had the support of the LaunchNET 91²Ö¿â program, which helped her to trademark her business and structure it as a limited liability company (LLC).
âLaunchNET 91²Ö¿â really helped me with the next steps because youâre always thinking forward to grow the business,â Johnson said in a 2017 interview. âThey got me into pitch competitions and helped me develop my pitch and grow my business in all aspects. Iâm so grateful for them because they really have guided me through things, I wouldnât have known how to do without them.â
In addition to the LaunchNet support, Johnson participated in the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship's Idea Pitch competition her senior year and won.
Johnsonâs Anne Cate products are sold in over 150 small and large stores across the country. She works with corporate clients, including Hulu and KeyBank, and distributes thousands of products monthly on her site, . Johnson has been featured as one of Wawak's Finest Designer's and Sewists and has proudly received Cleveland Magazine's Best of Cleveland award three years in a row.
Johnson was also featured this summer on WJW-Fox 8âs âNew Day Clevelandâ program, and the segment has aired in other markets across the country.
Johnson will be a featured panelist at this year's Spirit of Women in Business Conference hosted by the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship. The conference which will take place on March 7 at the Kent Student Center.