How Michelle Got Started

In March 2008, Michelle had her students at the New Hampshire Institute of Art design a graphic T-shirt and brought them to a local printing shop to view the production process.

That was when Michelle came up with her line of T-shirts called Just Be, which lets people express themselves in a simple way. Just Be is a state of mind, a way of life, and a philosophy." She brought her idea to the same T-shirt printer and quickly got to work on her first design: Just Be Kissable.

Keeping the Momentum

After creating Just Be Kissable, Michelle began building her business on the web. "A marketing expert advised me to promote Just Be to tweens, teenagers, and twentysomethings where they live, which is online." Michelle found a powerful and free marketing strategy via social-networking Web sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

With the launch of her e-commerce site jb-justbe.com last July, Michelle is also planning to put her $5,000 Next Great Idea Contest winnings toward purchasing a high-quality T-shirt printer so she can manufacture any online orders in-house.

Feeling Inspired . . . Anytime, Anywhere

Michelle continues to be inspired by her business and her classes. "In my classes, I teach that creativity can happen at any time, so I always have a pad of paper to take notes, even in the bathroom and the car."

That belief has helped Michelle create a unique brand designed to inspire a young audience with diverse interests and backgrounds. "Just Be is about people accepting themselves for who they are, so I want the brand to be out there for everyone to enjoy."