Buttons on Beaver was founded in September of 2022 a few games into the football season when my friends and I wanted Penn State buttons for our gameday outfits but could not find any cute ones downtown State College. Oddly enough, I had a few years of graphic arts experience from High School. I told my roommates I was going to order a button machine and start making us better buttons and then they told me I would never do that… So naturally I had to. 

At the start of my senior year at Penn State, August 2023, things took off more than I ever would have imagined. I doubled my following in a week, Daily Collegian and Valley Magazine publish features on my business, began a partnership with Doggies Pub, and another feature by Smeal and Penn State for Small Business Saturday. I was being recognized and also cutting 1,000s of circles by hand.

I've managed to run my business entirely through Instagram, Google Forms, and Venmo for about 2 years. After having great success and growing demand for Buttons on Beaver I knew moving forward I would have to make some professional changes. I hope to fulfill the Penn State communities need for cute game day buttons that elevate any outfit and serve as a memento from the game that can be kept forever.